SLANG
AND ITS
ANALOGUES.
SLANG ™ ™
ANALOGUES
PAST AND PRESENT.
A DICTIONARY, HISTORICAL AND COMPARATIVE, OF THE
HETERODOX SPEECH OF ALL CLASSES OF SOCIETY
FOR MORE THAN THREE HUNDRED YEARS.
WITH SYNONYMS IN ENGLISH, FRENCH, GERMAN,
ITALIAN, ETC.
COMPILED AND EDITED BY
JOHN S. FARMER and W. E. HENLEY.
*##,*
VOL. II.— C. TO Fizzle. /j
PRINTED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.
MDCCCXCI.
\B, subs. i. (Uni-
versity and school
boys'). — An ad-
ventitious aid to
study ; a ' crib' ;
a PONY (q.v. for
synonyms). [From
CABBAGE (q.v. ) = pilfe rings.]
1853. REV. E. BRADLEY (' Cuthbert
Bede '). Adventures of Verdant Green.
Those who can't afford a coach get a CAB,
alias a crib, alias a translation.
1876. Academy, 4 Nov. , p. 448, col. 21
The use or translations, ' cribs,' or 'CABS '
as boys call them, must at some time or
other engage the serious attention of
schoolmasters. [M.]
2. (old). — A brothel : in use
during the early part of the pre-
sent century ; now obsolete. [Pro-
bably a contracted form of 'cabin,'
some of the older senses of which
(e.g., a small room, bedroom, or
boudoir) are in correspondence.
Parallels exist in other languages,
and comparison may be made
with the Fr. cabane, and Sp.
cabana ; also with the Latin
taberna = cabin, hut, and brothel.
The It. bordello (Eng. bordcl) was
originally precisely equivalent to
taberna zn&caba7ia, beinga dimin-
VOL. II.
utive of borda = cottage, cabin,
shed, house of boards. All these
words, and many similar (e.%.,
Latin cella, cellula, the petite
maison of the French) came to
be applied in the specifically
esoteric sense under discussion,
by an obvious euphuism or famil-
iamm. which left the nature of
the hut, booth, cell, or cabin to
be supplied by those who under-
stood. Further, ' cabin ' = an
Eng. rendering of the Latin
cella, cellula = brothel. Also
CAB-MOLL ($.v.)t a prostitute,
originally the moll or molly of a
cabin, cabane^ or brothel, the
present meaning being a popular
misuse founded on a mistaken
analysis. 3 For all synonyms, see
NANNY-SHOP.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. Mother,
hew many tails have you in your CAB ?
i.e., how many girls have you in your
bawdy house ?
Verb (colloquial). — I. To pro-
ceed from one place to another
by means of a CAB ; Cf., 'to foot
or hoof it,' ' to tram it,' ' to train
it,' or 'to 'bus it.'
1836. C. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers.
He's a CABBING it, I suppose.
I
Cabbage.
Cabbage.
1882. BlackwoocFs Magazine, Feb.,
p. 238, col. i. He . . . CABS off to take
advice.
2. (schoolboys'). — To pilfer ;
to use a crib. Cf.t CABBAGE,
verb, of which it is an abbrevia-
tion.
CABBAGE, subs. (old). — I. Gene-
rally applied to pieces purloined
by tailors ; attributively to any
small profits in the shape of ma-
terial. Quoted by Johnson as ' a
canting term,' but now recog-
nised. There is little chance of
CABBAGE nowadays, save amongst
those who ' make up gentlemen's
own material ' ; but the expres-
sion is well understood by low-
class dressmakers. In America
a corresponding term is ' COLD-
SLAW (q.v. ) which consists of
finely-cut cabbage, and represents
the small remnants known in
other quarters as ' carpet-rags '
or CABBAGE. C/., PlGEON
SKEWINGS. [The derivation is
obscure. Murray traces it back
to 1663 (Hudibras [spurious]),
but points out that Herrick [1648]
apparently uses garbage and car-
bage for ' shreds and patches used
as padding. ' He then goes on to
say that ' if this was a genuine
use at the time, carbage may
easily have been corrupted to CAB-
BAGE.' This difficulty can, I think,
be removed. In the seventeenth
century, a style of feminine head-
dress, the a in vogue, very similar
to the modern chignon, was called
a CABBAGE. Thus in Mundus
Muliebris [1690] :
Behind the noddle every baggage, Wears
bundle 'choux,' in English CABBAGE.
Now, if this usage (omitted
from the N.E.D.) be compared
with the three quotations first
following, it would appear (i)
that the word CABBAGE was in
use prior to carbage or garbage
for ' shreds and patches ' ; (2)
that carbage and garbage contain
a sarcastic reference to the ma-
terials with which a woman's
CABBAGE, or chignon, was stuffed;
and (3) that in every quotation
the play upon words appears
to confirm these contention?.
Hence, if CABBAGE as a mode
of dressing the hair was current
during the seventeenth century
(I have come across no earlier
instance), it is possible that the
stages of transition were as
follows : —
1. CABBAGE = a well-known
vegetable.
2. = A mode of dressing the
hair, in such a form as to re-
semble a cabbage.
3. = The materials with which
such a tire was stuffed.
4. = The shreds and pieces
appropriated by tailors and
others as perquisites.
There is no evidence in sup-
port of such guesses as those in,
for example, the quotations dated
1853 and 1886.
1638. RANDOLPH, HeyforHonestey
(Old Play). Tailor. Nay, he has made
me sharper than my needle ; makes me eat
my own CABBAGE.
1648. HERRICK, Hespetides (Hazl.),
I., 79. Upon some women, Pieces,
patches, ropes of haire, In-laid GARBAGE
ev'rywhere.
1648. HERRICK, Hespemdes (Hazl.).
1 1., 325. Eupez for the outside of his suite
has paide ; But for his heart, he cannot
have it made ; The re^on is. his credit
cannot get The inward GARBAGE for his
cloathes as yet.
1063. Hudibras, II., 56. For as
tailors preserve their CABBAGE, So squires
take care of bag and baggage.
Cabbage.
Cabbage.
1742. CHARLES JOHNSON Highway-
men and Pyrates, p. 343. She takes him
into Pissing Alley, in Hollywell Street,
otherwise called the backside of St.
Clement's in the Strand, so eminently noted
for Taylors selling there their CABBAGE.
1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5 ed.).
CABBAGE (s.) . . . also a cant word to
express anything that is pilfered pri-
vately, as pieces of cloth or silk retained
by taylors, mantua-makers, or others.
1821. COBBETT, Weekly Register 28
April, col. 219. Taylor, of Charing Cross,
will allow of no thumb-piece and of no
CABBAGE.
1853. Notes and Queries, i S., viii.,
315, col. 2. The term CABBAGE, by which
tailors designate the cribbed pieces of
cloth, is said to be derived from an old
word 'cablesh,' i.e., wind-fallen wood.
And their • hell ' where they store the
CABBAGE, from helan, to hide.
1886. G. A. SALA, in ///. Lon. News,
16 Oct., 394, i. My correspondent's
terivation of CABBAGE from caboged
[caboged = ' cabossec I ' or ' caboched ' in
heraldy, in Fr. cabochee. See Littre] is
good ; but there is another one, namely,
cabas, a basket in which the pickings and
stealings of cloth might be hoarded.
The place where CABBAGE is
stored is termed HELL (q.v. ) or
ONE'S EYE (q.v.)', these term--,
as also GOOSE (q.v.), a smoothing
iron, are responsible for much
cheap wit. Cf., MAKINGS and
PICKINGS. The Spanish has
sisa = 'a petty theft.'
2 (old). — A tailor ; sometimes
CABBAGER, and formerly CAB-
BAGE-CONTRACTOR (q.v.). For
synonyms, see BUTTON-CATCHER
and SNIP.
1690. B E. Diet. Cant. Crew. CAB-
BAGE : a Taylor, and what they pinch
from the Cloaths they make up.
1725. New Cant. Diet. CABBAGE:
Taylors are so called, because of their
. . . Love of that Vegetable. The cloth
they steal and purloin ... is also called
CABBAGE.
3. (old). — A style of dressing
the hair similar to the modern
chignon. [For suggested deriva-
tion, see sense I.] Fr. un kilo.
1690. Mundus Muliebris. Behind
the noddle every baggage, Wears bundle
'choux,' in English CABBAGE.
4. (schoolboys'). — A transla-
tion or ' crib ' ; sometimes short-
ened to CAB (q.v., sense 2).
1868. BREWER, Dictionary of Phrase
and Fable, p. 129. CABBAGE is also a
common schoolboy term for a literary
crib, or other petty theft.
5. (common). — A cigar. The
French have unefeuille de platane
= a plane-tree leaf ; also un
craptilos or crapulados, a His-
panization of crapule = filth. For
synonyms, see WEED.
1843. Punch's Almanack, August i?.
The cigar dealers, objecting to their lands
being cribbed, have made us pay for the
CABBAGE ever since.
1848. Punch, vol. XIV., p. 298. Q.
Are cigars an English invention? A. No !
the cigar is a Spanish article, that has been
merely CABBAGED by the British manu-
facturer.
1853. C. S. CALVERLEY, Verses and
Translations, p. 141 [ed. 1881], Carmen
Scecularce. O fumose puer nimuim ne
crede Baconi Manillas vocat, hoc praetexit
nomine caules.
1889. Ally SlopeS s Half- Holiday,
July 6. Last week he offered me a weed —
A worse one no man's lips e'er soiled. ' No,
thanks,' said, * I, know the breed ; I much
prefer my CABBAGE boiled.'
6. (venery). — The female pu-
dendum. Cf., GREENS. For
synonyms, see MONOSYLLABLE.
Verb (old). — i. To purloin or
pilfer pieces.
1712. ARBUTHNOT, History of John
Bull, pt. I., ch. x. Your tailor, instead of
shreds, CABBAGES whole yards of cloth.
1870. New York Evening Sun, May
24. Report of Speech x>f Mr Chandler.
Let us knock the British crown to flinders ;
let us arrange for some one or two hundred
thousand British graves forthwith, and
CABBAGE the whole boundless continent
without any further procrastination.
Cabbage- Contractor.
Cabbage-Head.
1882. Notes and Queries, 6 S., yi.,
210. But he said, If I CABBAGE that ring
to-night, I shall be all the richer to-
morrow.
2. (schoolboys'). — To use a
translation or other adventitious
aid in preparing exercises ; to
' crib. '
1837. GEN. P. THOMPSON, Exerc.
(1842), IV., 234, A speech, which . . .
had been what schoolboys call CABBAGED,
from some of the forms of oration . . .
published by way of caricature [M.]
18(52. H. MARRYAT, Year in Sweden,
II., 387. Steelyards . . . sent by Gustaf
Wasa as checks upon country dealers, who
CABBAGED, giving short weight. [M.]
So also CABBAGED, ppL adj.,
pilfered, or stolen ; and CAB-
IJAGING, verbal subs., pilfering,
purloining.
CABBAGE-CONTRACTOR, subs. (old).
— A tailor. [From CABBAGE
(q.v., subs., sense i) = CON-
TRACTOR, a trader.] For syno-
nyms, see BUTTON-CATCHER and
SNIP.
CABBAGE-GELDER, subs. (old). — A
greengrocer or market gardener.
— A.B. C. of a New Dictionary of
Flash, Cant, and Slang [1866].
CABBAGE-HEAD, subs, (popular). —
A fool ; a soft-head ; a 'go-
along. ' For synonyms generally,
see BUFFLE, and more particu-
larly infra.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Block-
head ; chuckle-head ; chowder-
head ; cod's - head ; chump or
chump of wood ; dunderhead ;
flat ; go-along ; goosecap ; green-
lander ; gulpin; juggins; thick-
head ; lights ; loony ; looby ;
lubber ; mooney; mug; muggins;
muff ; ninny-hammer ; nincom-
poop ; nizzie ; pigeon ; sawney ;
Simon, or Simple Simon ; slow-
coach ; soft -horn ; sop ; Tom
Tug. To which may be added
' cupboard-headed,' ' half-boiled,'
' not all there, ' and ' off one's
chump,' used also of one not
compos mentis ; a thick (Win-
chester College).
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Une tete
de pioche (popular : pioche — pick-
axe or mattock) ; tmpoulet c? hide
(popular : poule d Inde = turkey-
hen) ; un couille (popular) ; un
faroissien de Saint Pierre atix bceufs
(popular) ; un noc (popular = a
'juggins') ; unloffiat( popular : this
is formed from a species of French
back slang, lof = fol reversed.
On the same lines we get la loffi-
tude = ' stupidity ' or ' non-
sense ' ; bonisseur de lojjitudes =
' a nonsense monger ' ; also sol-
liceur de loffitudes = ' a journa-
list ') ; tin Jean-bete (common :
Cf. , English ' Johnnie ' and
' Jack ' ) ; barrt ( = cabbage-
headed) ; une vieille bouillote
(popular) ; une bourriche (popu-
lar : 'a hamper ') ; une baclouille
(popular : also = ' a hen-pecked
husband ') ; etre deboulonne (popu-
lar : literally = ' unpinned ' or
' unbolted ') ; unffilolo (popular);
un daim (popular) ; etre de la
tribu des Benicoco (military) ; $tte
du 14 benedictins (popular) ; une
bestiasse (this term has passed
into the language) ; b$te comme
chou (= 'extremely stupid');
bete comme un p6t (= a per-
fect ass) ; b$te comme ses pieds
{— an arrant fool) ; tin abrtiti or
ahuri de Chaillot (popular :
Chaillot, in the suburbs of Paris,
is a common butt, much as are
Hanwell, Colney Hatch, etc. ;
abrutir=l to stupify, to besot, to
imbrute') ; une tete de boche (com-
mon : = a wooden head ; also a
German) ; un bidon de zinc (mili-
tary = ' a can ' or * flask ') ; un
Cabbage- Head.
Cabbage- Tree Mob.
cul or cttl (fane (popular : cul
(fane = ' the rump of an ass ' ;
Cf.t English ' ass ') ; un cantaloup
(popular : literally a melon) ; un
ciibe (a ' regular idiot ') ; un
canarie ; etre un c (a euphemistic
phrase) ; un busard or buson or
une buse (an allusion to the
stupidity of the buzzard) ; une
couenne (popular: = 'pig-skin.'
' Est-il couenne /' 'What an
ass ! ') ; un coquardcati ; un couil-
lon (popular : a cullion, used in
friendly jocularity = abashed,
crestfallen, and above all idiotic) ;
un esptce de cafouilletix (popular
= ' a bally bounder ') ; im ar-
guche (thieves') ; battre comtois
(thieves' = to play the fool) ; un
baveux (a driveller : one who does
not know what he is talking
about) ; un boniface (popular) ;
rt avoir pas casst la patte a coco
(thieves' = ' as big a bloody
mug as they make 'em ').
SPANISH SYNONYMS. Asnazo
(in ; properly ' a big jackass ') ;
asno (m) ; bambarria (m ; also =
an accidental but successful
stroke at billiards, * a fluke ') ;
bobalias (m ; a colloquialism for
' a very stupid fellow ') ; borro
(m ; properly a wether not two
years old) ; echacantos (m) ; gentil
hombre de placer ( = ' a buffoon '
or ' clown ') ; guillote(m ; literally
a husbandman, one who enjoys
the produce of a farm. Cf.,
' joskin ') ; fuan lanas (vulgar) ;
mamacallos or mamaluco (m) ;
naranjo (m ; properly the citrus
aurantium) ; pattdero (m ; also
* a timbrel ') ; pinchauvas (m —
a despicable person) ; porra (f) ;
es un solemne bobo ( ' he is a down-
right booby ') ; zamacuco.
PORTUGUESE SYNONYMS. —
Bamburrio ; mctcacada ; tauso ;
paosinho*
1682. MRS. BEHX, False Count (17 24),
III., 146. Thou foul, filthy CABBAGE-HEAD.
[M.]
1862. LOWELL, Bigloiu Papers, II.,
228. For take my word for 't, when all's
come and past, The CABBAGE-HEADS '11
cair the day at last.
c, 1880. Broadside Ballad, 'Right
before the missis too.' I've had a dreadful
row All through a chum named Tommy
Sheen, I ought to call him CABBAGE-HEAD,
He is so very green.
CABBAGE- LEAF, subs, (common). —
A bad cigar ; usually contracted
into CABBAGE (q.v., suds., sense
5). [From a popular theory of
material. J In French un in fee -
tados by a play upon words in
two languages, infect, Fr. =
more than common, vile, and
infectar, Sp. = ' to infect 'or 'be
infected '. For synonyms, see
WEED.
CABBAGE PLANT, subs. (old). — An
umbrella; GAMP (q.v.}', or
brolly.
CAB BAG ER, subs, (common). — A
tailor. [From CABBAGE (q.v.>
s^lbs.) sense i) + ER.] For syno-
nyms, see BUTTON-CATCHER and
SNIP.
CABBAGE-STUMPS, subf» (common).
— The legs. For synonyms, see
DRUMSTICKS.
CABBAGE -TREE MOB, subs. (Austra-
lian). Old for what are now
called LARRIKINS (q.v.}. De-
rived from the low-crowned
cabbage-palm hat affected by this
section of Australian society.]
CABBAGITES was an alternative.
18(?). LIEUT. -CoL. MUNDAY Our
A ntipodes. Loafers known as the CABBAGE-
TREE MOB, a class whom, in the spirit of the
ancient tyrant, one might excusably wish
had but one nose in order to make it a
bloody one. Ibid. Unaware of the pro-
pensities of the CABBAGITES, he was by
them furiously ass ailed.
Cabby.
Caboose.
CABBY, subs. (colloquial). — A
cabman. [From CAB + Y.]
Amongst French equivalents are
une hi>ondelle (properly = 'a
swal 'ow ') ; un maraudeur(i.e. , ' a
marauder,' one who plies without
a license; Cf., PIRATE (q.v.),
as applied to omnibuses.
1852. F. E. SMEDLEY, Lewis Arun-
del, ch. xxxiii. I was forced to offer him
a seat in the cab, but he coolly replied,
' No, thank ye ... I'll sit beside CABBY.'
1864-5. YATES, Broken to Harness,
II., p. 41. Easy, CABBY; we don't want
to be thrown into the very midst of the
aristocracy.
1890. Standard, Feb. IT, p. 3, col. i.
There was a Vienna CABBY with his jolly
red face and his professional impudence.
CABLE, verb (popular). — To send
a telegram by ocean (submarine)
To SLIP or CUT ONE'S CABLE,
subs. phr. (nautical). — To die.
For exhaustive lists of synony-
mous terms, see ALOFT and HOP
THE TWIG.
CABLE-HANGER, subs, (nautical). —
Explained by quotations.
1724-7. D EFOE, Tour thro G. Britain
(ed. 1748), I., 150. Persons who dredge
or fish for oysters, not being free of the
fishery, are called CABLE-HANGERS, and
are prosecuted and punished by the Court.
1867. SMYTH, Sailors' Word Book.
CABLE-HANGER, a person catching oysters,
in the River Medway, not free of the
fishery.
CAB- MOLL, subs. (old). — A prosti-
tute addicted professionally to
cabs and trains. [From CAB
(q.v., sense 2) + MOLL (q.v.}, a
strumpet.] For synonyms, see
BARRACK-HACK and TART.
CABOBBLED, ppl. adj. (nautical). —
Confused ; puzzled ; perplexed.
CABOODLE, stibs. (American). — A
crowd ; generally ' the whole
CABOODLE.' [Thought to be
an enlarged form of BOODLE
which is frequently used in the
same sense, and which is sup-
posed by some to be derived
from the old English bottel, a
bundle (Fr. hotel, botcau. Ger.
beutel.}. See, however, BOODLE,
sttbs., sense I. Another deriva-
tion is from the Spanish cabildo,
a provincialism for the corporation
of a town.] CABOODLE is gen-
eral throughout the States, and
has now almost completely
supplanted BOODLE (q.v.}, which
is usually applied in a different
sense. Sometimes CABOOSE (q.v. }
1858. New Orleans Picayune, 23 Feb.
The whole CABOODLE came out and fell
upon me, till I was as soft as a squash,
and then they took me up for fighting.
1887. Scribners Magazine. Ye've
got ter have faith in Goddie-mighty then,
sure, a-swingin' up an' down them mount'n-
sides, dark nights or bright, when a
rock on the track fom a landslide 'ud fling
the whole CABOODLE down the mount'n
an inter kingdom come afo' you'd know it.
CABOOSE, su^>s. (American). --Gene-
rally applied to convivial quar-
ters ; also to a bachelor's snug-
gery— a DEN (q.V.} Or DIGGINGS
(q.v. ). [Properly a ship's cook-
house or galley ; and in the
United St ites, a car on a freight
train for workmen, or for a
special purpose.]
THE WHOLE CABOOSE, f/.r.
(nonce expression). — Obviously a
variation of CABOODLE (q.v.}.
1870. London Figaro, 19 Oct. 'After
the Fire.' In this room, sir, said my
gallant conductor, lived a bricklayer with
his wife and two kids. He made that
hole in the wall, and got 'em safe through
— THE WHOLE CABOOSE on 'em ; and a
jolly good job he did.
Cacafuego.
Cackler.
CACAFUEGO,.mfo.(old). — A spitfire ;
braggart; bully. [From the Lat;n
cacare through the Spanish
cagar^ ' to void excrement,' 4-
Spanish fuego^ fire.] This word,
once literary, has long fallen
into desuetude. It was regarded
as vulgar after the middle of the
last century, and thereafter was
only included in slang dic-
tionaries.
1625. FLETCHER, Fair Maid, III., i.
She will be ravisht before our faces, by
rascalls and CACAFUGOS, wife, CACA-
FUGOES. [MJ.
1696. PHILLIPS. CACAFUEGO, a
Spanish word signifying Shitefire; and
it is used for a bragging, vapouring
fellow. [M.]
1725. New Cant. Diet, [s.v.]
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. CACA-
FEUGO. A sh-te-fire, a furious bragga-
docio or bully huff.
CACHUNK! intj. (American).— On-
omatopoeic— the 'bow-wow' word
of Max Miiller — belonging to a
class of exclamations intended to
convey an imitation of the sound
of a falling body. Uncertain as
regards orthography they are
largely affected in the Southern
and Western States. Mainly of
recent origin, though two,
KESWOLLOP and KEWHOLLUX
rare in the States, are not un-
familiar to English ears. Ex-
amples are : — Caswash ; Caw-
halux ; Che wallop ; Casou=e ;
Cathump ; Kerplunk ; Katouse ;
Katoose ; Kelumpus ; Kerchunk ;
Kerplunk ; Kerswosh ; Kerslosh ;
Kerswollop ; Kerblinkityblunk ;
and Kerblam.
CACKLE, subs, (theatrical). — i. The
dialogue of a play ; especially
used at first, of the patter of
clowns, etc. , in a circus. [From
the figurative usage of CACKLE,
to make a noise as a hen after
laying an egg, a usage trace-
able as far back as 1225.]
1887. Referee, 21 August, p. 2, col. 3.
Those [playgoers] who do not insist upon
a very high order of literary quality in the
CACKLE.
2. (colloquial). — Idle, incon-
sequent, noisy chatter.
1676. A. RIVETUS, JUN. Mr.Smirke,
18. Bedawb'd with Addle Eggs of the
Animadverters own CACKLE.
1887. Punch, 10 Sept., p. in- If a
feller would tackle a feminine fair up to
Dick, he 'as got to be dabs at the CACKLE.
Verb (old).— To talk idly,
especially in the sense of telling
secrets. For synonyms, see
PEACH.
1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the Vu I-
gar Tongue. The cull is leaky and
CACKLES ; the rogue tells all.
1882. Punch, LXXXII., 177, 2. The
old jokers in scarlet and erming who
lounge in their red bedroom-chairs, And the
cinder-wig'd toffs in alpaca who CACKLE
and give themselves airs.
CACKLE- CHUCKER, subs. (theatrical).
— A prompter. [From CACKLE,
the dialogue of a play, -\
CHUCKER, one who throws out
(from the mouth).]
CACKLE- MERCH ANT, subs, (theatri-
cal).— A dramatic author. [From
CACKLE, the dialogue of a play,
+ MERCHANT. Cf., CAPER-
MERCHANT, a dancing-master.]
CACKLER, subs. (old). — i. A fowl.
[From CACKLE (q.v.) + ER.]—
See also CACKLING CHEAT.
1673. R. HEAD, Canting Acad., 192.
A Prigger of the CACKLEKS.
1730-6. BAILEY. CACKLER ... a
humorous word for capons or fowl.
1749. Life of Bamfhylde - Moote
Careiv. Oath of the ' Canting Crew." No
dimber damber, angler, dancer, Prig of
CACKLER, prig of prancer.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. CACK-
ler : a hen.
Cackle? s-Ken.
Cackling- Cove.
2. (colloquial). — A noisy
talker; a 'blab.' — See CACKLE,
verb.
1400. Cov. MysL, 131. KyttCAKELERE
and Colett Crane. [M.]
1598. FLORIO, Gracchione ... a
chatter, a CACKLER. [M.]
1730-6. BAILEY, CACKLER : a Prater,
a Tell-tale, a noisy Person.
1878. BROWNING, Poets ofCroisic, 92.
If they dared Count you a CACKLER.
3. (circus and showmen's).
— An actor or showman who has
a speaking pait.
1854. DICKENS, Hard Ttrnes.bk. I.,
ch. vi., p. 14 (H. ed.)- 'He has his
points as a CACKLER still ... a speaker,
if the gentleman likes it better.
CACKLER'S-KEN, subs. (old). — A
hen-roost ; a fowl-house. [From
CACKLER (q.v., subs.) sense i), a
fowl, + KEN (q.v. ), a place or
house.] A French tnieves'
equivalent is une orniere (from
ornie> a hen).
CACKLE-TU B, subs. (old). — A pulpit.
[From CACKLE (q.v.} + TUB, in
allusion to the shape of old-
fashioned pulpits.] For syno-
nyms, se* HUM-BOX.
1888. MUSGRAVE, Savage London.
I sorter think if yer'll borrow Lucy's chair
to wheel me, I'll go and sit under the
CACKLE-TUB in Little Bethel next Sunday.
CACKLING-CHEAT orCHETE, subs.
(old). — A fowl. [From CACK-
LING, that cackles, + CHEAT,
From A.S. ceat, a thing.] — See
CHEAT.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Beaker ;
cackler ; margery prater ; galeny ;
partlet ; chickabiddy ; rooster ;
chuck-chuck ; chuckie.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Un bec-
quant (a thieves' term) ; tin
ornichon (also a thieves' term for
a chicken) ; un pique-en-terre
(literally ' a peck-the-ground ') ;
une estable or une estaphle
(thieves') ; brtiantez ( Breton slang).
GERMAN SYNONYMS. Kachni
(from the Gypsy) ; mistkratzer.
ITALIAN SYNONYMS. Ruspante
or raspant^ (properly ' scratching '
or ' scraping ').
SPANISH SYNONYMS. Capiscol
(this, and indeed all the terms
here given from the Germania,
refer to the cock-bird. Capiscol
= Fr. caporat) ; obispo (properly
a bishop) ; rey (literally king).
1567. HARMAN, Caveat^ p. 86. She
has a CACKLING-CHETE, a grunting-chete,
ruff pecke, cassan, and poplarr of yarum.
1622. FLETCHER, Beggars Bush, v. '
i. Or surprising a boor's ken for grunting-
cheats? Or CACKLING-CHEATS?
1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the Vul-
gar Tongue. CACKLING-CHEATS (cant) :
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. CACK-
LING CHEATS : Fowls (cant).
CACKLING-COVE, subs, (theatrical
and common). — An actor. [From
CACKLING (see CACKLE, sufa.,
sense i) + COVE, an old canting
term for a man.]
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Mum-
mery-cove; mug-faker; mummer;
mugger (properly an actor who
makes free play with his face) ;
tragedy or comedy merchant ; pro ;
stroller ; cackle-faker ; barn-
stormer ; surf.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Unpre-
tre (thieves' : literally ' a priest ' :
a curious sidelight on the views
concerning religious orders of
the criminal classes) ; icn raze
or razi pour Faf (thieves' : raze or
razi = priest ; and affe in old
French cant signified ' life ' or
' the soul,' but latterly eau d'affe^
Cackling-Fart.
Cad,
' brandy. ' There seems, however,
little connection between either of
these readings and the example
under consideration) ; un Egyp-
tien (theatrical : a term applied
to a bad or inferior' actor) ; un
acteur-^uitare (a term specially
applied to one who elicits applause
in lacrymose scenes only — an
actor with only one string to his
bow) ; ttn enleveur (theatrical :
one who plays in such a way as to
enlever la salle, i. e., 'to bring down
the house ') ; une doublure (an
understudy) ; un cab, cabot, or
cabotin.) (used mainly in con-
tempt, much in the same way as
'mummer.' Cabotinage is the life
of hardship led by strolling
players, and thence, by derivation,
the life of the ' profession '
generally) ; un bruleur de planches
(theatrical : a spirited or restless
actor) ; un acteur briile (popular :
one that has had his day) ; tin
bouch trou (theatrical : an under-
study or stop-gap) ; un bouleur or
une bouleuse(a, substitute, or under-
study) ; un misloquier or une
misloquiere (thieves') ; un nom
(theatrical : ' a star ').
CACKLING-FART, subs. (old). — An
egg- [From CACKLING (see
CACKLE) + FART (y.v.) a dis-
charge of wind through the aims.]
A variant in English is HEN-
FRUIT ; Fr. un avergot (thieves') ;
the Breton cant has bruant, whilst
in the German Gaunersprache is
found Dickmann (also = \}\e penis
and testes) ; the Fourbesque has
arbifi and albert o (the latter from
the Italian albo, white).
CAD, subs, (popular). — A term of
contempt now generally applied
to an offensively ill-bred person,
irrespective of social position.
Formerly used of underlings and
others performing menial offices.
[Murray favours its origin in cadet
and the popular forms cadee and
caddie. See, however, CADATOR,
the quotations under which appear
to suggest a collateral, if an in-
dependent origin. Some regard
the word as a contraction of
' cadger ' ; whilst others trace it
to the Scotch ' cadie ' or ' caddie,'
an errand boy — now an attendant
at golf ; or to the slang University
sense of the word, a non-
member]. The vocable has
passed through a variety of
meanings.
1. Passengers taken up by
coach drivers for their own profit.
[M.]
2. (obsolete). — A chum or com-
panion.
3. (old). — An assistant.
4. (old). — An omnibus con-
ductor.
1833. HOOD, Sk.fr. Road. Though
I am a CAD now, I was once a coachman.
[M.]
1836. DICKENS, Pick-wick, ch. xxxiii.,
p. 279. He paused, and contemplated,
with a face of great calmness and philo-
sophy, the numerous CADS and drivers
of short stages who assemble near that
famous place of resort [the Mansion-
House].
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. III., p. 355. The
conductor, who is vulgarly known as the
CAD, stands on a small projection at the
end of the omnibus,
5. A messenger or errand boy.
1835. T. HOOK, Gilbert Gurney, ch.
vii. I will appear to know more of you
than one of the CADS of the thimble-rig
knows of the pea-holder.
1839. T. HOOD, Miss Kilmansegg,
p. 230. Not to forget that saucy lad
(Ostentation's favourite CAD), The page,
who looked so splendidly clad.
Cad.
10
Caddie.
1843. J. HEWLETT, College Life, I.,
p. 115. Webb's boy, who went as CAD
with the dog.
6. (University and public
schools'). — A contemptuous term
applied to non-school or non-
University men. At Cambridge
SNOB, the word Thackeray used,
has long been a common term
for a townsman ; now the
undergrad says TOWNEE or
TOWNER (q.v.). The German
an alogue is Philister. Dr. Giinther
(Jena and its Environs] tells that
of the old towers and gates which
formed the entrance to Jena, the
square one to the west alone
remains ; and is remarkable not
only lor its prison, called 'The
Cheese-Basket,' but for four
images of monkeys' heads carved
at the several corners of the gate
itself. In a quarrel between stu-
dents and townsfolk in the vicinity
of the Johannis-Thor, the former
dubbed the watchmen there ' the
monkey watchmen.' The guard
vowed vengeance, and one evening
killed a student who had taken no
part in the disturbance. The
ecclesiastical superintendent,G6tz,
preached a sermon at the boy's
funeral from Judges xvi. 20, ' The
Philistines be upon thee, Samson ! '
and that night his text was heard
in the street, Philister iiber dir
Samson ! ' Henceforward the
citizens were called ' Philister ' by
the students ; and, the name being
exported to the other Universities,
it came at length to be applied to
burgher folk throughout Germany.
According to some this fight
occurred in 1693. For synonyms,
see RANK OUTSIDER.
1831. HONE, Year Book, 670. Pre-
ceded by one or two bands of music in
two boats, rowed by CADS.
1856. REV. E. BRADLEY (' Cuthbert
Bede '), Adventures ofl'erdant Green, I.,
p., 117. And I can chaff a CAD.
1860. Macmillaris Mag., March p
327. You don't think a gentleman can
lick a CAD, unless he is the biggest and
strongest of the two.
1873. Saturday Review, September,
p. 305. At Oxford the population of the
University an J city is divided into ' Dons,
men and CADS.'
7. (general). — A vulgar, ill-
mannered person ; a blackguard,
i.e., a person incapable of moral
decency. For synonyms, see
SNIDE.
1849. CHARLES KINGSLEY. Alton
Locke. ' The CADS ' ' the snobs,' ' the
blackguards,' looked on with a dislike, con-
tempt, and fear which they were not back-
ward to return.
1860. THACKERAY. Lovell the
Widower, p. 245. There's a set of CADS
in that club that will say anything.
1880. Punch's Almanack, 12. Lor'
if I'd the ochre, make no doubt I could cut
no end of big-pots out. Call me a CAD ?
When ironey's in the game, CAD and
swell are pooty much the same.
1882. F. ANSTEY, Vice VersA, ch.
vii. Perhaps your old governor has been
making a CAD of himself then, and you're
out of sorts with him.
1889. Answers, Feb. 23, p. 205, col.
3. You wouldn't care to know Goodfellow,
Miss Smart ; he's awfully bad form— a
regular CAD, you know.
CADATOR, subs. (old). — A beggar
in the character of a decayed
gentleman.
1703. WARD, London Spy, pt. I., p.
. He is one of those gentile [? genteel]
umpers, we call CADATORS ; he goes a
Circuit round England once a year, and
under Pretence of a decay'd gentleman,
gets both Money and Entertainment at
every good House he comes at.
ed. 1760. T. BROWN, Works, II.,
179. You . . . sot away your time in
Mongo's fumitory, among a parcel of old
smoak-dry CADATORS.
CADDIE, subs. (Scots). — An at-
tendant at golf.
1889. Scots Observer, Feb. Oh, my
CADDIE, my CADDIE ye're a vera intelligent
laddie. But I dinna like yer grinnin
When I'm no exactly winnin'.
7.
M
Caddish.
IT
Cadge.
CADDISH, adj. (popular). — Vulgar ;
offensively ill-bred. [From CAD
(q.i'.y sense 7) 4 ISH.]
18*59. SHIRLEY BROOKS, Sooner or
Later, II., p. 31. ' Well I don't care
about walking on Sundays. Religious
scruples, perhaps.' ' I should think not.
But it seems so CADDISH — like snobs who
can go out on no other day.'
1872. Civilian, Aug. 10. There are
many sorts of Ministerial insolence at
present ' on view ' in the House of
Commons. Mr. Ayrton's is coarse and
CADDISH, the Attorney - General's con-
temptuously courteous, and Mr. Lowe's
cynically and facetiously insulting.
1874. E. I.. LINTON, Patricia
Kemball, ch. xx. ' However, I have
brought you here to reason, not to wrangle,'
he continued more quietly ; 'and wrangling
is CADDISH.'
CADE, subs, (society). — The Bur-
lington Arcade. [An abbrevi-
ated form of 'Arcade.'] Cf.,
THE Zoo for 'the Zoological
gardens,' THE PROMS, for ' the
Promenade Concerts,' THE POPS.
for ' the Monday Popular Con-
certs,' and THE CRI. for the
'Criterion Bar. ' Somewhat older
examples are THE LANE (q.v. )
and THE HOUSE (q.v.}.
CADGE, subs, (vulgar). — The pro-
fession of cadging or begging.
— Se? verbal sense.
1812. J. H. VAUX, Flash Dictionary.
The CADGE is the game or profession of
begging.
1832-53. Whistle- Binkie (Sc. Songs),
Ser. II. ,68. He could ' lay on the CADGE'
better than ony walleteer that e er cost a
pock o'er his shouthgr.
Verb tr. and intr. — To obtain
by begging ; to beg. Now ap-
plied to vagrants and others who
solicit in an artful wheedling
manner. [A comparatively mo-
dern derivative. CADGER (Scots)
a pedlar or carrier, i.e., one who
strolls the country with his stock-
in-trade in a CADGE, i.e., a panier
or basket for the carriage of small
wares. Cf., ' to beg,' from ' bag.']
Hence said of anyone who lives
by sponging on another, or who
gets a livelihood without giving a
proper quid pro quo. For ex-
ample, a waiter when hanging
about for ' a tip ' is said to be
CADGING or 'on the CADGE.'
Among intimates To CADGE A
DINNER or SUPPER is now often
used without implied reproach.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. CADGE
the swells, beg of the gentlemen.
1846. LYTTON, Lucretia, II., xii. ' I
be's good for nothin' now, but to CADGE
about the streets and steal and filch. [M.]
1848. E. FARMER, Scrap Book (ed.
6), 115. Let each CADGE a trifle.
1866. G. A. SALA, Trip to Barbary.
ch. xiv. Thumping the tom-tom, and
CADGING for coppers.
1883. Daily Telegraph, Feb. 8, p. 3,
col. i. ' It's as bad a' most as drawing
peoples' teeth to CADGE a trifle off them
in such winter months as we've had since
the Autumn broke.'
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. To
mump ; to pike ; to mouch ; to
stand the pad ; to maund ; to
tramp ; to mike.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Bet-
tander (thieves'); aller a la chasse
avec un fusil de toile (popular :
literally ' to go hunting with a
canvas gun,' an allusion to the
necessary wallet or bag); bellander
(tramps'; Cf., bettander \ pos-
sibly some confusion has arisen
between these two terms) ; ba-
laudet (tramps') ; truquer de la
po^ne (tramps') ; trucker (Old
Cant, from true, any kind of
open air small trade or artifice.
The word appears in various
French, Italian and Spanish
dialects, whilst MKRIL in his
Dictionnaire du patois Nor maud
allies it with the English 'trick');
tendre la demi-aune (popular:
Cadge.
12
Cadge.
demi-aune = the arm) ; cameloter
(popular : meaning also to sell,
cheapen, or tramp) ; faire le coiip
de manche, or faire la manche (to
call at people's houses) ; men-
digoter (popular).
GERMAN SYNONYMS. Abgeilen
(to get by begging. From the
O.H.G. gil) • abschnurren (to
beg through a lane, town, or
province ; also = to take to
one's heels ; M.H.G. snurren,
schnurren (<?.v., infra) and
Schnurrant, a beggar musician) ;
bimmeln (Bimmler, Bummler, a
beggar or vagrant) ; benschen (a
corruption of the Latin benedicere
= to say grace after meat ; from
praying to begging is but a step) ;
paternellen (perhaps, like the fore-
going, a formation, from the Latin
pater noster^ signifying to say
muchflater) ; noppeln (vagrants');
Schnurren, schnorren snurren,
(from the O.H.G. snurren, to
grind, to grind out music on a
HURDY-GURDY [g.v.], or to grind
out prayers. A beggar or
vagrant is termed Schmtrrer,
Schnorrer, or Snurrer = a
grinder. Auf die Pille schnurren
— to beg by feigning epileptic
fits ; auf Serjfleppe schnurren =
to beg on the pretence of having
been ' burnt out ' ; Schnurrpilsel,
Schnurrscheye, Scenurrschicksel,
Schurrkeibelche, and Sc knurr-
madchen, are epithets for very
young girls who are beggars or
strumpets as occasion fits ; the
dual occupation being known as
Kommistarchenen and Hemdensch -
nurren] ; tarchenen, targenen,
dor gen ) dorchen (' to beg ' or ' to
hawk. ' The derivation is obscure,
but it is possibly to be found in
the Hebrew tirgel, ' to teach to
walk ' or 'to guide the foot. '
Others trace it to the O.H.G. Turg,
' uncertain ' or to storgen from
Stor^tr, 'a wandering quack.' The
Fiesellange, or Viennese thieves'
lingo, has Tarchener as equiva-
lent to Kegler, a kitchen thief) ;
linkstappeln (to beg or collect
money under false pretences ; ste
Linkstap^ler under CADGER) ;
prachern (probably from the
Hebrew berocha, a blessing :
wandering beggars generally in-
troducing themselves with some
sort of a benediction) ; Schnallen-
drikken gehen, or attf Schnallen,
driicken gehen (these terms also
signify to walk the streets as a
prostitute. Schnalle = untruth,
cheating, deception, and the
female pudendum} ; stabeln,
stappeln, and stapeln (the first of
the-se forms is peculiar to Vienna,
and all are traceable to Stiban or
Stap, the Anglo-Saxon staff.
The meaning is to go with a
begging staff, generally with a
pretence of having seen beUer
days) ; dalfen and dalfern (the
corresponding noun Dalfon = a
poor fellow, is supposed to be
derived from Dalfon, the only
one of the ten sons of Haman,
whose name had not the letter
aleph either at the beginning or
end of it [Esther ix. 7-9]. The
story goes that because of this
he was not only hanged, but
mocked into the bargain : the
feast in commemoration of
Haman 's fall being essentially a
merrymaking. Thenceforth, a
poor man became a Dalfon} ;
deufen gehen = to go begging
with the intention of committing
a robbery. Cf.t O.H.G. Diufa,
Deube = theft) ; Jechten, Viennese
thieves' lingo).
ITALIAN SYNONYMS. Truccare
(identical with the French trnqtter
y.v.) ; Santocchiare (also = 'to
Cadge- Cloak.
Cadger.
say one's prayers ') ; calcheggiare
(also = to steal).
CADGE-CLOAKorGLOAK,.mfo. (old).
— A beggar. For synonyms, see
CADGER.
1791. CAREW, Life and Adventures
of Bamphylde-Moore Careiv. CADGK-
CLOAK, curtal, or curmudgeon ; no Whip-
Jack, palliard, patrico . . . nor any other
will I suffer.
CADGER, subs, (common).— Pri-
marily a carrier, pedlar, or
itinerant dealer ; now mainly
applied to a whining beggar ;
also, occasionally, a * sponger,'
SNIDE (g.v.), or ' mean man ' (see
quots.). [From CADGE (q.v. ) +
ER.]
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Abram
man ; croaker , Abraham cove ;
Tom of Bedlam ; Bedlam beggar ;
maunderer, moucher ; pikey ;
traveller ; turnpike, or dry land
sailor ; scoldrum ; shyster ;
Shivering James ; silver beggar ;
skipper-bird ; mumper ; paper-
worker ; goose-shearer ; master
of the black art ; durrynacker.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Un
trucheur, or un trucheux (Old
Cant, from true, which see under
CADGE) ; un marcandier or Tine
marcandiere (thieves' ; a variety
of the mendicant tribe which is
described in le Jargon de ? Argot
as 'those wno journey with a
great purse by their side, with
a pretty good coat, and a cloak
on their shoulders, pretending
they have met with robbers who
have stolen all their money) ;
les mil lards. (Old Cant); un
becheur ; une comete (popular : 'a
comet ' — one here and there) ;
les callots ; un enfant de la loupe
(thieves') ; un loupiat (popular) ;
un mendigot (thieves') ; un lartin
(Old Cant).
GERMAN SYNONYMS. Dal/on
(see CADGE); 7 echtbrud( Viennese
thieves') ; Gomel (from the He-
brew, and used only as a nick-
name) ; Hochstappler (a beggar
cheat who has seen better days.
Cf. , Stappler and Linkstappler) ;
l,inkstappler (a beggar by means
of false papers ; a dealer in sham
lottery tickets ; or a ' snide ' col-
lector for purposes of charity) ;
Pracher (possibly from the He-
brew berocha, 'a blessing,' in
allusion to the mumper's benedic-
tion ; Sclmallendriicker (from
Schnalle = 'an untruth,' ' cheat-
ing,' , or 'deception,' •+ Trecker,
one who pulls) ; Schnurrer (see
under CADGE) ; Stabeler (see under
CADGE) ; Standjunge (a beggar
frequenting markets, fairs, and
public processions).
ITALIAN SYNONYMS. Cam-
pa^no di calca (campagno =
companion or comrade, calca —
' crowd ' ) ; calco (see preceding) ;
corteggiano or cortigiano (literally
' a courtier ') ; cavorante di scarpe
(literally 'working shoes';
specially applied to a beggar who
is also a pickpocket) ; granchetto
(especially one who PATTERS IN
FLASH (q.v.) ; truccante (also = a
thief) ; guido or guidone (literally
' a guide ' ; also = a ' dog ' or a
' companion ') ; incattnato an old
and decrepit beggar's boy-leader.
Literally one put up or hung up
in chains).
SPANISH SYNONYM. Chita
(a nickname for a deformed
vagrant or beggar).
1821.— W. T. MONCRIRFF, Tom and
Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 6. CADGERS make
holiday, Hey, for the maunder's joys, Let
pious ones fast and pray, They save us the
trouble, my boys.
1851.— MAYHEW, Lon. Lab. and Lon.
Poor, I., 339. A street seller nowadays is
Cadging.
Cage.
looked upon as a 'CADGER,' and treated
as one.
1882.— Daily Telegraph, 5 Oct., p. 3.
col. i. See on a Saturday night, in White-
chapel, the rank hypocritical CADGER,
whose coarse disguise of cleanness and
respectability would scarcely deceive the
most fojhsh persons at the West-end.
1884.— JAS. GREENWOOD, The Little
Ragamuffins. I may here remark that
amongst people of my born grade no one
is so contemptuously regarded as he who
is known as a CADGER. The meaning
they set on the word is not the dictionary
meaning. The CADGER with them is the
whining beggar, the cowardly impostor,
who being driven or finding it convenient
to subsist on chanty, goes about his busi-
ness with an affectation of profoundest
humility, and a consciousness of his own
unworthiness ; a sneaking, abject wretch,
aiming to crop a meal put cf the despising
and disgust he excites in his fellow-
creatures.
CADGING, verbal subs, (common). —
Begging, frequently eked out by
petty pilfering. [From CADGE
(q.v.) + ING.]
1859. 'H..KiNGSLEV,Ge0/rei>ffamfyn,
ch. xv. I've got my living by casting
fortins, and begging, and CADGING, and
such like.
1873. JAS. GREENWOOD, In Strange
Company. But what one in vain looked
for was the 'jolly beggar,' the oft-quoted
and steadfastly believed in personage
who scorns work because he can ' make '
in a day three times the wages of an
honest mechanic by the simple process
of CADGING.
CADY, subs, (common). — A hat.
[Derivation unknown.] Some-
times written CAUEY and CADDY.
For synonyms, see GOLGOTHA.
1886. The A . B. C. of New Dictionary
of Flash, Cant, Slang, etc., p. 85. CADDY :
a man's hat.
1887. Walforcfs Antiquarian, April,
p. 251. Sixpence I gave for my CADEY
A penny I gave for my stick.
CAFFAN. — See C ASS AN.
CAFFRE'S LIGHTEN ER, subs. (South
African). — A full meal. Fr. une
lichance (from lie her-— lecher, ' to
lick ').
1864. LADY DUFF GORDON. Letters
from the Cape. I asked him [a young
black shepherd at the Cape] to sing ; and
he flung himself at my feet, in an attitude
that would make Watts crazy with delight,
and crooned queer little mournful ditties.
I gave him sixpence and told him" not to
get drunk. He said, ' Oh, no ! I will buy
bread enough to make my belly stiff ; I
almost never had my belly stiff.' He like-
wi>e informed me that he had just been in
the tronk [Cape Dutch slang for a prison,
answering to the English stone -jugl. and,
on my asking why, replied, ' Oh, for fight-
ing and telling lies.'
CAGE, subs. (old). — I. A minor
kind of piison for petty male-
factors ; a country 'lock-up.'
[From CAGE, a place of con-
finement for birds, beasts, and,
formerly, human beings.] Once
in literary use ; now thieves'
slang.
I'.OO. Lancelot, 2767. As cowart
thut schamfully to ly Excludit in to CAGE
from chewalry. [M.]
1593. SHAKSPEARE, //. Henry VI.,
iv., 2. Dick. Ay, by my faith, the field is
honorable, and there he was born, under a
hedge ; for his father had never a house but
the CAGE.
1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5 ed).
CAGE (s) : a place of confinement for
thieves or vagrants that are taken up by the
watch in the night-time, to secure them till
the proper officer can carry them before a
magistrate.
1815. SCOTT, Guy Mannering, ch.
liii. I was doomed — still 1 kept my
purpose in the CAGE and in the stocks.
1839. HARRISON AINSWORTH, Jack
Sheppard [1882], p. 78. The CAGE at
Willesden was, and is— rbr it is still
standing — a small round building about
eight feet high, with a pointed tiled roof,
to which a number of boards inscribed with
the names of the parish officers, and
charged with a multitude of admonitory
notices to vagrants and other disorderly
persons, are attached.
Cage.
Cage.
1841. Punch, vol. 1 , p. 3. 'A synopsis
of voting.' He who is incited into an
assault, that he may be put into the CAGE.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. For
a prison generally, academy ;
boat ; boarding-house ; bower ;
block-house ; bastille ; bladhunk ;
stone-jug ; jug ; calaboose ;
cooler ; coop ; downs ; clink ;
jigger ; Irish theatre ; quod ;
shop ; stir j clinch ; steel ;
sturrabin ; mill ; toll shop ;
floating hell ; floating academy ;
dry room ; House that Jack Built ;
choakee.
Among special names for
particular prisons may be men-
tioned Bates's Farm or Garden
(Cold Bath Fields) ; Akerman's
Hotel (Newgate) ; Castieu's
Hotel (Melbourne Gaol) ; Bur-
don's Hotel (White Cross Street
Prison) ; Ellenborough Lodge,
Spike or Park (the King's Bench
Prison, to which, as a matter of
fact, every Chief Justice stood
god-father) ; Campbell's Aca-
demy (the Hulks) ; City College
and Whittington's College (New-
gate) ; Tench ; Pen ; and Smith's
Hotel (Edinburgh).
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Lecastue
(thieves') ; la cartiche (thieves') ;
la boite aux cailloux (thieves') ;
cailloux = stones ; Cf. , ' stone
jug ' ; le college (thieves' : New-
gate at one time was called the
City College) ; la cage (popular) ;
le chateau (thieves' : literally a
castle, chateau de Sombre = a
convict settlement) ; la chambre
de surete (the parish prison of
the Conciergerie) ; le chetard
(thieves') ; le canton (thieves' :
according to Menage in his Dic-
tionnaire Etymologique, the
original sense of this word is the
same as coin. From canton has
been derived the verb, cantonner^
a military term signifying the
billetting of troops in one or
more villages) ; en ballon (popu-
lar : in prison) ; la grosse boite
(thieves' : literally the big box) ;
la bonde (thieves' : a central
prison) ; la Biscaye (thieves') ;
Vabbaye de sots bougres (thieves' :
obsolete = The billy Bugger's
Arms) ; le bloc (a military prison
or cell, Cf.) block-house) ; la
dure (thieves' : a central prison,
dur is properly hard, merciless,
obdurate) ; la femme de Fadju-
dant (a military lock-up, jigger,
or Irish theatre ; literally the
adjutant's wife) ; la bagnole (popu-
lar : a diminutive of bagne, of
the same meaning) ; la motte
(thieves' : a central prison or
house of correction) ; Fhbpital
(thieves' : a man in durance is
un malade = a patient) ; la mitre
(thieves' : a corruption of mith-
ridate, the name of a certain
ointment ; mitre formerly meant
' itch ') ; le jetar (military ; the
same as chetar] ; Pours (common :
a term given to a prison, guard-
room, or cell) ; la boite a violon
(a lock-up at a police-station ;
violon itself signifies a prison,
the barred windows being com-
pared to the strings of that
instrument. Argot and Slang
says : — The lingo terms jouer de
la harpe, to be in prison, and
jouer du violon , to file through
the window bars of a cell, seem
to bear out this explanation.
Some philologists, however,
think that the stocks being
termed psalterion, mettre au
psalterion, to put in the stocks,
became synonymous with ' to
imprison,' the expression being
superseded in time by mettre au
violon when that instrument itself
Cage.
16
Cage.
superseded the psalterion} ; la
tune f on (Old Cant) ; fausto (a
military prison) ; le lycee( thieves':
= ' academy ') ; Fecole prepara-
toire (pop. : a preparatory school
tor young thieves^ le lazaro (mili-
tary : — lazar-house, or * spike) ;
le mazaro (military : = cells) ; la
matatane (military: 'a guard room'
or the cells); le loustatid ( thieves)';
la lorcefe (thieves' : the old prison
of La Force} ; le loir (thieves' =
' dormouse ') ; fhosto (soldiers'
and thieves' : also popularly, ' a
house or crib ') ; lagrotte (thieves' :
the hulks. Properly a grotto or
crypt) ; Fh6tel des haricots (fa-
miliar : from the staple of diet,
Cf., Ger. Erbsien and Graupen-
palais] ; la morte paye stir mer
(obsolete : the hulks) F ombre
(popular: = 'shade,' Cf., Ger.
Kilhle} ', la maze (abbreviation of
Mazas, a central prison in Paris) ;
la-bas (prostitutes : St. Lazare ;
thieves' : the convict settlement
at New Caledonia, or in Cayenne);
la malle (military : Cf., English
' box ').
GERMAN SYNONYMS. Antoni-
klosterl (Viennese thieves' = a
prison in Vienna) ; Drillbajis or
Drillhaus (a house of drill or
correction) ; Echetel (Viennese
thieves') ; Erbsien (Viennese
thieves' : from the staple of diet
— Erbsen = peas. Cf., Grau-
penpalais] ; Graupenpalais (a
prison in Berlin, from the staple
of diet — barley) ; Grannigebais
(Granigire Marochum = a for-
tress) ; Gymnasium (Cf., col-
lege, academy, lycee ; Kaan or
K'ln (from the Hebrew ; im
Kaan scheften, to be in prison) ;
Kue or Kuh (in die Kue sperren-,
to imprison) ; Kitt or Kittchen
(from the Hebrew Kisse — a
chair, throne, roof, common
lodging-house, brothel, work-
house, and prison) ; Kille (literally
an assembly) ; Kiihle (im Kiihhn
sitzen, literally to sit in the
'cooler' or in the shade; Cf.,
etre a F ombre, and ' to be
under a cloud ') ; Leek (Viennese
thieves' M.H.G., hiken,to lock
up); Mifzer (Hebrew pozar, a
fortress or prison) ; Schofelbajis
(from the Hebrew schophal, bad,
common, low, or unfortunate.
Also a brothel) ; Stube (this,
according to Zimmermann, signi-
fies a prison) ; Talltsittasky
(Hanoverian : from tallo, gal-
lows, + masky from Maskopei,
society, i.e., gallows-birds) ; l^fise
(from the Hebrew tophas}.
ITALIAN SYNONYMS. Basta;
casa (a house. The forms ca-
saccia and cazanza are also used) ;
cavagna ; travaghosa (literally
laborious) ; sentina (properly a
sink of vice; ; mscola or visco
losa.
SPANISH SYNONYMS. Mad-
rastra ; angiistias or ansias (lite-
rally grief or anguish) ; banasto
(literally a large round basket) ;
banco (properly a bench) ; temor
(i.e., fear) ; trena (/).
PORTUGUESE SYNONYMS. Es-
tarim or xelro ; limoeiro (a cant
name for a prison in Lisbon).
2. (common). — An 'improver,
or bustle. See BIRD-CAGE.
3. (venery). — A bed ; also
BREEDING-CAGE.
1875. W. E. HENLEY, Unpublished
Ba'lad. ' In the BREEDING CAGE I cops her,
With her stays off, all a'blowin' ! — Three
parts sprung.' —
4. ( parliamentary ). — The
Ladies' Gallery in the House of
Cagg.
Cake.
Commons ; sometimes called the
CHAMBER OF HORRORS, which
appertains more properly to the
Peeresses' Gallery in the Upper
r House.
1870. London Figaro, 10 June. ' The
Angels in the House.' Mr. Crauford's
Motion for the expulsion of strangers
(during the debate on The Contagious
(Women's) Diseases Act had reference to
the CAGE and not to the Reporters' Gallery.
CAGG, verb (old military). — Grose
says ' a military term used by the
private soldiers, signifying a
solemn vow or resolution not to
get drunk for a certain time ; or,
as the term is, till their CAGG is
out, which vow is commonly
observed with the strictest exact-
ness : e.g., " I have CAGG'D my-
self for six months. Excuse me
this time, and I will CAGG myself
for a year." Common in Scotland,
where the vow is performed with
divers ceremonies.'
CAG-MAG, subs, (vulgar). — Pri-
marily a provincialism for a tough
old goose ; now a vulgarism for
refuse, or rubbish, or scraps and
ends. The transferred sense is
older than given in the N.E.D.
Cf., KEG-MEG. [Brewer derives
it, 'from the Gaelic and Welsh,'
cag magu, whilst others consider
it as originally a University slang
term for a bad cook, KCCKO^
paytipoc. The Latin magma
(Pliny), = dregs or dross.] Also a
plain or dirty woman.
1769. PENNANT, Tour in Scotland,
1774, p. 10. Vast numbers [of geese] are
driven annually to London ; among them,
all the superannuated geese and ganders
(called here [Lincoln] CAG-MAGS).
1839.— Comic Almanack, Sept., p. 188,
But here's the greatest grief, and sure it
makes one choke to put on A libel to one's
neck, just like cheap CAG-MAG-SCRAG of
mutton.
1851-61.— H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and L on. Poor, vol. I., p. 133. 'Do I ever
eat my own game if it's high? No, sir,
never, I couldn't stand such CAG-MAG. '
1864.— Temple Bar, vol. X., p. 185.
No KAG MAG wares are sold, no cheap
articles are retailed.
CAIN. To RAISE CATN,/^*-. (Ameri-
can).— To proceed to extreme
measures ; to be quarrelsome ;
to make a disturbance. Of
Western origin ; primarily applied
to men who would have shown
no hesitation in shooting or
stabbing ; generally = merely dis-
putatious or quarrelsome Vari-
ants are TO RAISE HATE, HELL, or
HELL AND TOMMY, and TO RAISE
NED (q.v.\ [An allusion to the
anger of the first fratricide.]
1849.— RUXTON, Scenes in the Far
West, p. 117. He had been knocking
around all day in every grog-shop and
bar-room in town, and when evening came
he was seen swaggering down Main Street,
his head bare, his eyes bloodshot, and his
revolver in hand, shouting : ' Who'll hinder
this child ? I am going TO RAISE CAIN !
Who's got anything to say agin it ? '
1869.— MRS. BEECHER STOWE, Old
Town Folks, p. 116. 'I'll tell you what,
Solomon Peters,' said Miss Asphyxia, ' I'd
jest as soon have the red dragon in the
Revelation a comin' down on my house as
a boy ! If I don't work hard enough now,
I'd like to know, without having a boy
around RAISIN' gineral CAIN.'
CAIN AND ABEL, subs, fhr, (rhym-
ing slang). — A table.
CAINSHAM - SMOKE, subs, phr,
(old).— The tears of a wife-beaten
husband. — DUNTON. Ladies' Die ~
tionary [1694],
CAKE or CAKEY, subs, (popular).—
I. A fool or dullard. Quoted by
Grose in his Dictionary of the
Vulgar Tongue [1785], in various
provincial glossaries, and generally
colloquial in the lower strata of
society. [In punning allusion,
some have thought, to the doughy
Cake.
18
Calaboose.
softness of a cake, a name given
at first to any ' flat ' kind of
sweetened breadstuff. Hence
variants, such, for example, as
'flat,' 'soft,' and 'muff.' Others,
however, trace it to the Greek
icaicoc, bad, and point out that in
University slang a clever man is
called a good man and the oppo-
site a bad one, or a CAKE.] For
synonyms, see BUFFLE and CAB-
BAGE-HEAD.
1841. Comic Almanack ; 'Twelfth
Night,' p. 256. And ever since, on fair
Twelfth Night, A wand'ring form is seen :
A female form, and this its cry : — ' Vy vot
a CAKE I've been ! '
1842. J. R. PLANCHE, The White Cat,
II., iv. Your resignation proves that you
must be The greatest CAKE he in his land
could see !
1862. MRS. H. WOOD, Channings,
ch. xxix. If Pye does not get called to
order now, he may lapse into the habit of
passing over hardworking fellows with
brains to exalt some good-for-nothing CAKE
with none, because he happens to have a
Dutchman for his mother.
2. (American thieves'). — A
stupid policeman.
3. subs. (Christ's Hospital). —
A stroke with a cane.
Verb (Christ's Hospital).— To
TO TAKE THE CAKE, phr.
(common). — To rank the highest ;
to carry off the honours ; to be
the best of a kind ; ' to fill the
bilP (theatrical). [CAKE has
long been employed symbolically
in this connection ; in the seven-
teenth and eighteenth centuries,
' to get one's share of the cake '
was a common colloquialism.
The special application has been
popularised in the U.S.A. In
certain sections of the country
' cake walks ' are in vogue among
the coloured people. The young
bucks get themselves up most
elaborately, and walk from one
end of the hall to the other, under
the gaze of beauty and the critical
glance of the judges. The mark-
ing is done on a scale of numbers,
and the ties are walked off with
the utmost finish and a rare at-
tention to style. The prize is a
CAKE and the winner TAKES it.]
Whimsical variations are TO TAKE
Or YANK THE BUN ; TO SLIDE
AWAY WITH THE BANBURY ; TO
ANNEX THE WHOLE CONFEC-
TIONER'S SHOP. Cf., TO TAKE
THE KETTLE = to take the prize
for lying.
1885. San Francisco Nevus Letter,
Between you 'n me, red stockings ain't
becomiri' to all — ahem — limbs, 'n for cool
cheek 'n dash. I back some o'em against
any saleslady 't makes a livin' by it, the
way 't some o' those girls 'd pin on a
boutonniere TOOK THE CAKE.
HURRY UP THE CAKES ! phr.
(American) = Look sharp !
Buckwheat and other hot cakes
form a staple dish at many
American tables, but the phrase
has now become pure slang.
LIKE HOT CAKES, phr. (Ame-
rican).— Quickly ; with energy ;
a variant of LIKE WINKING, or
LIKE ONE O'CLOCK (q.v.}.
1888. Punch's Library, p'. 15. ' Will
go LIKE HOT CAKES.' Book Seller (to
Clerk). ' Haven't we an overstock of
"Jack, the Giant|Killer," on hand, James ? '
Clerk. 'Yes, sir.' Book Seller. 'Well,
take 'm up to the Polo Grounds this after-
noon ; they'll sell fast enough there.'
CAKEY - PANNUM FENCER. — See
PANNUM IENCER.
CALABOOSE, subs. (American and
nautical). — The common gaol.
[This word comes into popular u?e
from the Spanish calabozo through
the French calabouse.~\ So also
TO CALABOOSE = to imprison.
Calculate.
Calfs Head.
1840. R. H. DANA, Two Yearsbefore
the Mast, ch. xxi. A few weeks after-
wards I saw the poor wretch sitting on
the bare ground, in front of the CALABOZO,
with his feet chained to a stake, and
handcuffs about his wrists.
1888. Santa Ana Blade. Charley
Read struck an old tramp in the CALA-
BOOSE the other day, who looked disgusted
at his headquarters and remarked ' Well
I've been in every jail from Portland to
Santa Ana, but this is the d — nest snide of
a CALABOOSE I ever struck yet.
CALCULATE, verb (U.S. colloquial).
— To think ; expect ; believe ;
intend ; indeed, almost any sense
save the legitimate, which is ' to
estimate by calculation.' It
belongs to the same class of
colloquialisms as GUESS and
RECKON. CALCULATE is some-
times, especially in New England,
corrupted into CAL'LATE.
1830.— GALT, Laivrie, T., II., v.
(1849), 56. I CALCULATE, that ain't no
thing to make nobody afeard.
1848.— J. R. LOWELL, Biglvw Papers.
The Sarjunt he thout Hosea hedn't gut his
i teeth cos he looked a kindo's though he'd
jest come down, so he CAL'LATED to hook
him in, but Hosy woodn't take none of his
sarse.
1851.— Miss WETHERELL, Queechy,
ch. xix. 'Your aunt sets two tables, I
CALCULATE, don't she?'
CALEYS,.r«&y. (Stock Exchange). —
Caledonian Railway Ordinary
Stock.
1881.— ATKIN, House Scraps. ' If
anything tickles our fancy We buy them,
Brums, CALEYS or Apes.'
CALF, stibs. (colloquial). — An igno-
ramus ; a dolt ; a weakling. Cf.,
CALF LOLLY. For synonyms,
see BUFFLE and CABBAGE-HEAD.
1553.— UDALL, R oyster D., II., iv.,
in Hazl. Dodsley, III., 94. You great
CALF, ye should have more wit, so ye
should.
1627.— DRAYTON, Nymphid (1631),
171. Some silly doting brainless CALFE.
1872. H
AIDE, Moials and
' rlish fancy
who had
J.OJ4?. nAMll.lUIN nilJE., 1V1 U
Mysteries, p. 60. She had a girli
for the good-looking young CALF
so signally disgraced himself,
TO EAT THE CALF IN THE
COW'S BELLY, phr. (common).
— A \ ariant of * to count
one's chickens before they are
hatched.'
1748. RICHARDSON. Clarissa Har-
lome [ed. 1811], III., 135. I ever made
shift to avoid anticipations : I never would
EAT THE CALF IN THE COW'S BELLY, as
Lord M's phrase is.
CALF-CLINGERS, subs, (common). —
Pantaloons ; i.e., close-fitting
trousers. [Derivation obvious.]
For synonyms, see BAGS and
KICKS.
1884.— J. GREENWOOD, Little Raga-
muffins. Knee-breeches were just going
out of fashion when I was a little boy, and
CALF-CLINGERS (that is, trousers made to
fit the leg as tight as a worsted stocking)
were ' coming in.'
CALF, Cow, and BULL WEEK, subs,
phr. (operatives'). — Before the
passing of the Factory Acts it
was customary in manufacturing
districts, especially for men,
women, and children, to indulge
in the practice of working verj
long hours for a period of three
weeks before the Christmas
holidays. In the first, which
was called * CALF WEEK,' the
ordinary hours of work were
but slightly exceeded ; in the
second, or 'cow WEEK,' they
were considerably augmented ;
and in the third, or 'BULL WEEK,'
it was common for operatives to
spend the greater portion of the
twenty-four of each day in their
workshops. The practice re-
sulted in extreme exhaustion and
— naturally — indulgence to excess
in stimulants.
Calf-Lick.
20
Calico- Bally.
1871.— Echo, 4 Dec. CALF, cow, AND
BULL WEEK. We find a good illustration
of the beneficial influence of the Factory
Acts in the reports of the Government
Inspectors just issued. The district in-
spector expresses the hope that the measures
which he took against some offenders in
BULL WEEK last year will extinguish for
good and all this absurd and illogical
custom.
CALF'S HEAD, subs, (common). -A
stupid, witless individual. For
synonyms, see BUFFLE and CAB-
BAGE-HEAD.
1600. — SHAKSPEARE, Much Ado
about Nothing, V.,i., CLAUDIO : ' I' faith,
I thank him ; he hath bid me to a CALF'S
HEAD and a capon ; the which if I do not
carve most curiously, say my knife's naught.
CALF- LICK. — See COW-LICK.
CALF - LOLLY, subs. (old). — An
idle simpleton ; a general term of
reproach.
1653. URQUHART, Rabelais, bk. I.,
ch. xxv. Jobbinol goosecaps, foolish
loggerheads, flutch CALF-LOLLIES.
1708. MOTTEUX, Rabelais, iv., xvii.
I was a CALF-LOLLY, a doddipole.
CALF - LOVE, subs, (common). —
A youthful, romantic fancy. [A
sarcastic allusion to the blind
unreasoning character of boy and
girl attachments.]
1823. GALT, Entail, I., xxxii., 284.
I made a CALF-LOVE marriage. [M.J
1863. MRS. GASKELL, Sylvia's Lovers,
II., 104. It's a girl's fancy — just a kind o'
CALF-LOVE — let it go by.
1884. Longman's Mag., IV., 50. I
was still at the early and agonising stage
of the passion which is popularly known as
CALF-LOVE.
CALFSKIN-FIDDLE, subs, (old).— A
drum.
1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the Vul-
gar Tongue^ s.v.
CALF-STICKING, subs, (thieves'). —
Explained by quotation. [Cf.t
CALF and STICK].
1883. Daily Telegraph, 25 July, p'
2, col. i. The venerable oarsman grinned,
and set me right by explaining that what
was called CALF-STICKING by those who
practised it was the putting off of worth-
less rubbish, on the pretence that it was
smuggled goods, on any foolish or un-
scrupulous person who could be inveigled
into treating for the same.
CA LI BOGUS, subs. (American). — A
very old name for a mixture of
rum and spruce beer, being
quoted by Grose in 1785 as ' an
American beverage.' The last
two syllables of the word are
thought to be derived from the
French bagasse, the refuse of the
sugar cane. This view would
seem to be supported by the
fact that rum is itself a product
of the sugar cane.
1861. L. DE BOILEAU. Recoil.
Labrador Life, p. 162. CALLI BOGUS, a
mixture of Rum and Spruce-beer, more of
the former and less of the latter.
CALICO, adj. (old).— Thin ; wasted ;
attenuated. [Calicut is the name
of the Indian city whence the
material of the comparison was
brought. The earliest reference
for original signification given by
Murray is 1505 ; but he omits the
cant meaning.]
1733. NATH \NIEL BAILEY, Colloquies
of Erasmus (translated), p. 37. In such a
place as that your CALLICO body (tenui
corpusculo) had need have a good fire to
keep it warm.
1861. SAL A, Seven Sons of Mammon.
A shrewd, down-east Yankee once ques-
tioned a simple Dutchman out of his well-
fed steed, and left him instead a vile
CALICO mare in exchange.
CALICO-BALLY, adj. (common).—
Somewhat ' fast ' ; applied to
California.
21
Calverfs Entire.
one always on the look out for
amusement. [Primarily used of
frequenters of CALICO-BALLS.]
180). Broadside Ballad, 'The Flip-
perty-Flop Young Man.' I once was a
cabby and hack young man, And a little
bit CALICO-BALLY ; A picture card out of
the pack young man, And frequently music
hally.
CALIFORNIA. — See CALIFORNIAN,
sense 2.
CALIFORNIAN, subs, (common). — i.
A red or hard-dried herring.
Further explained by quota-
tions. Also SOLDIER, ATLANTIC
RANGER and GLASGOW MAGIS-
TRATE.
1873. — CasselFs Mag., Jan., p. 245,
Very large quantities of cured herrings
came from North Britain at that time, and,
excepting those from the Firth of Forth,
they were more cured, dryer and salter
than those from Norfolk. Some were sent
very dry indeed, as hard as a stick, and of
a very deep red colour; such were used,
as similar fish now are, for exportation.
About the time of the gold discoveries,
some one applied the term CALIFOKNIAN
to these. The word was appropriate,
and CALIFORNIANS such highly-coloured
herrings are called to this day.
2. [Generally used in the
plural — CALIFORNIANS.] Generic
lor gold pieces.
CALIFORNIA WIDOW, subs. phr.
(American). — A married woman
whose husband is away from her for
any extended period ; a GRASS
WIDOW (q.v.} in the least offen-
sive sense. The expression dates
from the period of the Californian
gold fever, when so many men
went West, leaving their wives
and families behind them.
CALK, verb (Eton College).— To
throw.
CALL, subs. (Eton College).— The
time when the masters do not call
ABSENCE (g.v.).
TO HAVE or GET A CALL UPON,
phr. (American), — To have a pre-
ierence, or the first chance.
1888.— Puck's Library, May, p. 23,
Picture Dealer (to Professionals Hus-
band) : ' No, sir ; I can't sell no more of
your wife's pictures unless she gets down
some of that flesh, and looks kinder
sestheticker. The ethereal and intellectual
HAS GOT THE CALL on the old style of
beauty now-a-days.
To CALL A GO, verbal phr.
(vagrants' and street patterers').
— To change one's stand ; to
alter one's tactics ; to give in at
any game or business. [From the
GO ' call ' in cribbage.]
1851-61.— H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 252. To CALL A
GO, signifies to remove to another spot, or
adopt some other patter, or, in short, to
resort to some change or other in conse-
quence of a failure.
TO TALL A SPADE A SPADE.
— See SPADE.
TO CALL OVER THE COALS.
— See WIGGING.
PUT AND CALL.— See PUT.
CALLE, subs, (old and American
thieves'). — A cloak or gown.
Quoted by Grose [178$], and
still in use in the U.S.A. amongst
the criminal classes. For syno-
nyms, see CASTER.
CALP or KELP, subs. (old). — A hat.
[Origin unknown.] For syno-
nyms, see GOLGOTHA.
CALVERT'S ENTIRE. — The Four-
teenth Foot. [Called CALVERT
from their colonel, Sir Harry Cal-
vert( 1 806-1826), and ENTIRE, be
cause three entire battalions were
kept up for the good of Sir
Harry, when adjutant -general.
A play upon words in reference
Calves.
22
Camesa.
to Calvert's malt liquors.] This
regiment was also called the OLD
AND BOLD.
1780. R. TOMLINSON, Slang Pastoral,
canto viii. Gin ! What is become of thy
heart-chearing fire, And where is the beauty
of CALVERT'S INTIKE?
1871. Chambers' Journal, 23 Dec ,
p. 803, col. i. The 1 4th Foot, CALVERT'S
ENTIRE.
1886. Tinsley's Magazine, April, p.
322. A very curious name, CALVERT'S
ENTIRE, used to be attached to the i4th,
but this as well as the circumstances which
gave rise to it are forgotten.
CALVES. CALVES GONE TO GRASS,
subs. phr. (old). — Said of spindle
sh inks ; i.e., slender, undeveloped
legs, with lack of calves.
THERE ARE MANY WAYS OF
DRESSING CALVES' HEADS, phr.
(old). — Many ways of saying or
doing a foolish thing ; a simple-
ton has many ways of showing
his folly ; or, generally, if one
way won't do, we must try
another.
CALVES' HEADS ARE BEST HOT,
phr. (common). — A sarcastic
apology for one sitting down to
eat with his hat on. — See STAND-
UP.
CALX, subs. (Eton College).— The
goal line at football. [From a
Latin sense of CALX = a goal,
anciently marked with lime or
chalk.] At Eton CALX is a space
so marked off at each end of
WALL ; GOOD CALX is the end at
which there is a door for a goal ;
BAD CALX the end where part of
an elm tree serves the purpose.
1864. Daily Telegraph, Dec. i. The
Collegers were over-weighted . . . and
the Oppidans managed to get the ball
down into their CALX several times. [M.]
CAMBRIDGE OAK, subs. (old). — A
willow. [An allusion to the
abundance of this tree in the
county in question, which is
situate in the P'en District.]
Formerly many analogous sayings
were in vogue ; e.g. , 'A Cots-
wold lion ' for 'a sheep,' etc.
— See also CAMBRIDGESHIRE
NIGHTINGALE.
CAMBRIDGESHIRE or FEN NIGHTIN-
GALE, subs. phr. (common). — A
frog. [The county is scored with
canals and dykes ; the allusion is
to the natural preponderance of the
croaking of frogs over the singing
of nightingales.] Cf. CAM-
BRIDGE OAK and CAPE NIGHTIN-
GALE.
1875. Chambers' Journal, No. 581,
p. 107, col. 2. The male of the eatable frog
is distinguished ... by ... a pouch
. . . These pouches increase the volume
of the croak, and render it so powerful that
the possessors have, from the county in
which they are particularly plentiful,
received the nickname of CAMBRIDGESHIRE
NIGHTINGALES.
CAM DEN -TOWN, subs, (rhyming
slang). — A half penny, or 'brown.'
For synonyms, see MAG.
CAMEL'S COMPLAINT, subs. phr.
(common). — Low spirits; the
HUMP (q.V.}.
CAMESA, suls. (thieves'). — A shirt
chemise, or 'shimmy.' [From
the Spanish camisa, or Italian
caniicia.'} The word appears in
various forms from the beginning
of the seventeenth century, e.g.,
' camisa,' * camiscia ' ' kemesa,'
* camis •, ' and in a more genuinely
English dress as ' COMMISSION '
(q.v.), which in turn is shortened
into MISH (g.v.). For synonyms,
see FLESH-BAG.
1690.— B.E., Diet. Cant. Crew. CA-
MESA : a shirt or shift.
Camister.
Canack.
1785. — GROSE, Dictionary of the Vul-
gar Tongue. CAMESA (cant, Spanish) : a
shirt or shift.
1812.— BYRON, Childe Harold II.,
Tambourgi ii. Oh ! who is more brave
than a dark Suliote, In his snowy CAMESE
and his shaggy capote ?
1834. — H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood,
bk. III., ch. v. With my fawnied famms,
and my onions gay, my thimble of ridge,
and my driz (laced) KEMESA.
CAMISTER, subs, (thieves'). — A
preacher or clergyman. From
the white gown or surplice.
From Latin camisia^ a linen
tunic, alb, or shirt, + (probably)
a termination suggested by
' minister. '] For synonyms, see
DEVIL-DODGER.
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 231. [List of
patterer's words.] CAMISTER= Minister.
CAMP. To GO TO CAMP, phr.
(Australian). — To go to bed ; to
take rest. [From the practice
in the early settlers' days of
forming a camp whenever a halt
for the night was called.]
1887. All the Year Round, 30 July,
p. 66, col. 2. To GO TO CAMP, by a
transference of its original meaning, now
signifies, in the mouth of a dweller in
houses, simply 'to lie down,' 'togotobed.'
TO TAKE INTO CAMP, phr*
(Common). — To kill.
1878. S.L.CLEMENS ('Mark Twain')
Sotne Rambling Notes of an Idle Ex-
cursion, p. 66. Sure enough one night the
trap took Mrs. Jones's principal tomcat into
camp, and finished him up.
To CAMP, phr. (Australian). —
To surpass ; to ' floor.'
18(?) H. KENDALL, Billy Vickers.
At punching oxen you may guess There's
nothing out can CAMP him ; He has, in
fact, the slouch and dress Which bullock-
driver stamp him.
CAMPBELL'S ACADEMY, subs. phr.
(old). — The hulks, or lighters,
on boa^d of which felons were
condemned to hard labour. Mr.
Campbell was the first director. —
Grose. — See ACADEMY and
FLOATING ACADEMY. For
synonyms, see CAGE.
1781. G. PARKER, View of Society,
II., n. He was tried at Guildhall, West-
minster, and sentenced to improve as a
pupil in Mr. Duncan Campbell's FLOATING
ACADEMY for five years.
CAM P-CAN DLESTiCK,.y«fo. (military)
— An empty bottle, or a bayonet.
Quoted in the Lexicon Balatroni-
cum [1811]. For synonyms in
the sense of 'an empty bottle,'
see DEAD-MAN.
CAMP-STOOL BRIGADE, s^lbs. phr.
(common). — Said in the first
place of people who wait outside
a place of entertainment to secure
the best seats, and bring camp-
stools with them to rest them-
selves.
1889. Pall Mall Gazette, 23 Sept.,
p. 5, col. 2. The first night of the Gaiety
Wanderers will not be forgotten in a
hurry. Seats for the occasion were booked
a year ago last April ! Can you wonder
that the CAMP-STOOJ. BRIGADE besieged
the pit door as early as 10 a.m. ?
CAN, subs. (American). — I. Adollar
piece.
2. (Scots). — A 'slavey.'
CANACK, CANUCK, KANUCK,
K'NUCK, subs. (American). — A
Canadian, usually a K'NUCK.
[Obscure, and limited in its appli-
cation within the Canadian
frontier. There, a CANUCK is
understood to be a French
Canadian, just as within the
limits of the Union only New
Englanders are termed Yankees ;
whereas elsewhere that appel-
lation is given indiscriminately to
Canary,
24
Canary.
natives of all the States. It is by
some supposed that CANUCK is
a corruption of Connaught, the
name applied by French-Cana-
dians to the Irish, from which it
would follow that, by a process
of inversion, a nickname given
by one section of a nation to
another has, in course of time, been
applied to the whole. Others,
however, think the first syllable
of 'Canada 'has been joined to
the Algonkin Indian substantive
termination uc or ug.~\
CANARY or CANARY-BIRD, subs.
(thieves'). — I. A prisoner; a
very old cant term for habitual
offenders ; or, as Grose says
[1785], ' a person used to be kept
in a CAGE' (q.v.}. The same
idea occurs in some foreign equiva-
lents, e.g., the French, oiseau de
cage, and the German, Kastener^
from Kasten, a chest or case.
For synonyms, see WRONG 'UN.
1673. — HEAD, Canting Academy, p.
157. Newgate is a cage of CANARY-BIRDS.
1725. — New Canting Dictionary. CA-
NARY-BIRD, a little, arch, or knavish boy ;
a rogue or whore taken and clapped into
the cage or roundhouse.
1839. — HARRISON AINSWORTH, Jack
Sheppard [1889], p. 55. Now for the cage,
my pretty CANARY-BIRD. Before we start
I'll accommodate you with a pair of ruffles.
2. (general). — A mistress.
{See preceding quot. (1725) : the
term is still in use.] For syno-
nyms, see TART.
3. (common). — Formerly a
guinea, but now applied to a
sovereign [From similarity of
colour.]
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Yellow
boy ; goldfinch ; yellow hammer ;
shiner ; gingleboy ; monarch ;
couter ; bean foont ; James
(from Jacobus) ; poona ; por-
trait ; quid ; thick 'un ; skin ;
skiv ; dragon ; goblin. A guinea
was also called a ' ned.'
FRENCH SYNONYMS for the
equivalent twenty franc piece
are, un jatinet (popular : literally
' butter-cup ' or ' yellow-boy ') ;
une sigue, sigle, sigolle or cig
(thieves') ; un bonnet jaune( popu-
lar : literally ' yellow-cap ' or
'bonnet'); un boitton (i.e., 'a
master-key ') ; une maltaise (old
cant ; according to Victor Hugo
this go'd coin was used on board
the convict galleys at Malta) ; un
motile a boutons (popular) ; une
medaille d"or (popular : = a gold
medal).
GERMAN SYNONYMS. Gelbling
(gelb = yellowr) ; Fuchs (a gold
piece ; literally ' a fox ').
For synonyms of money gene-
rally, see ACTUAL and GILT.
1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the
Vulgar Tongue. CANARY-BIRDS in a
canting sense, guineas.
1822. SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel, ch.
xvi. Fifty as fair yellow CANARY-BIRDS as
e'er chirped in the bottom of a green silk
purse.
1842. Punch, p. 168. ' Prolusiones
etymological,' 13. Goldfinches — CANARIES.
— Singing birds ; the which whose pos-
sesseth needeth never to pine for lack of
notes.
4. (thieves'). — A female watcher
or stall; a MOLLISHER (q.v.).
Cf. CROW = a male watcher.
Fr. une marque franche.
1362. H. MAYHEW, Lon. Lab. and
Land. Poor, IV., 337. Sometimes a woman,
called a ' CANARY,' carries the tools [of
burglars], and watches outside.
5. ( Salvation Army). — A written
promise of a donation or sub-
scription. At some of the meet-
ings of the ' Army ' instead of
Cancer.
Candy man.
sending round the plate, the
' officers ' distribute slips of paper
on which those present are in-
vited to record their benevolent
intentions. The original colour
of the slips was yellow — hence
the nickname.
CANCER. To CATCH or CAPTURE
A CANCER, phr. (common). — See
CRAB.
1857. HOOD, Pen and Pencil Pictures
p. 141. He had another way of CAPTURING
CANCERS, namely, by never putting his oar
into the water at all.
CANDLE - KEEPERS, subs. (Win-
chester College). — The eight
seniors in college by election who
are not prefects. They enjoy
most of the privileges of prsefects
without their powers.
1870. M NSFIELD, School-Life at
Winchester C. lege, p. 30. The Seven
CANDLE-KEEPERS (why so-called, I have
no idea, nor have I ever heard any inter-
pretation of the appellation) These were
the seven inferiors who had been longest
in the school, quite independently of their
position in it ; they were generally old and
tough. Of these, the senior had almost as
much power as a praefect ; he had a ' valet '
in chambers, one or two ' breakfast fags,1
and the power of fagging the twenty juniors
when in school, or in meads. The junior
CANDLE KEEPER was called ' the Deputy,'
and had also some slight privileges besides
that of having a valet and breakfast fag,
which was common to all of them.
1878. ADAMS, Wykehamica, p. 278.
Presided over by a CANDLE-KEEPER.
CANDLESTICK, subs. i. (Winchester
College). — A humorous corrup-
tion of the wcrd * candidate.'
1870. MANSFIELD, School-Life at
Winchester College, p. 175. Each of these
[the Electors] had in turn the privilege
of nominating a boy for admission into
Winchester till all vacancies were filled,
of which there were generally about twelve,
but always many more ' Candidates ' (or
CANDLESTICKS, as they were often called).
1878. H. C. ADAMS, Wykehamica, p.
418. CANDLESTICK, merely a facetious
version of ' candidate.'
2 pi. (London).— The
tains in Trafalgar Square.
foun-
1851. MAYHEW, London Labour and
Lon. Poor, I., p. 529. There was his
(Nelson's) pillar at Charing Cross, just by
the CANDLESTICKS (fountains).
CANDY, adj. (old). — Given by Grose
in 1785, and by the Lexicon
Balatronicum, in 1811, as 'drunk
— an Irish term.'
CANDYMAN, subs, (northern). — A
bailiff or process server. Origin-
ally a seller of candy. [In
October, 1863, there was a great
strike of miners at the collieries
of Messrs. Strakers and Love, in
the county of Durham. As no
adjustment of the difference was
possible, the owners determined
to eject the miners from their
cottages. For this purpose, an
army of rascals were engaged,
including at least one whose
ordinary occupation was that of
hawking candy and sweetmeats.
The man was recognised and was
chaffed ; and CANDYMAN, which
rapidly became a term of reproach,
was soon applied to the whole
class ; and since that time is come
into general use over the two
northern counties whenever eject-
ments take place.]
1863. Newcastle Chronicle, Oct. 31.
The colliery carts and waggons stood at
the doors, and the furniture was handed
out, and piled quickly but carefully upon
them. It was evident that the CANDYMEN
had warmed to their work. The name
of CANDYMAN has been given to the
loaders because of their avocations of
' candy ' hawking, from which they are
supposed to have been taken to be put to
this work.
1876. Notes and Queries, 5 S., v., 405.
A term in the North for men employed to
Canister.
Canoe.
carry out evictions against cottage
occupiers.
1886. Notes and Queries,"'] S., i., p.
445-
CANISTER,.?/^.?, (general). — I. The
head. [A transference of the
original meaning, ' a box or
case for holding things.'] For
synonyms, see CRUMPET.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. To
mill his CANNISTER ; to break his head.
1821. MONCRIEFF, Tom and Jerry,
Act ii., Sc. 4. Tom. I've nobb'd him on
the CANISTER.
1885. BelFs Life, Jan. 3, p. 8, col. 4.
Once more did the star of Australia rise,
but to set from additional raps on the
CANISTER. He fell on his knees, and his
head droped on his breast.
2. (common). — A hat. [For-
merly CANISTER-CAP (see sense
i) ; subsequently shortened to
CANISTER.] For synonyms, see
GOLGOTHA.
1887. ATKIN, House Scraps. Turning
round, I saw my unfortunate beaver, or
CANISTER, as it was called by the gentry
who had it in their keeping, bounding
backwards and forwards.
CANK, adj. (old). — Dumb; silent.
[Curiously enough, CANK also
signifies ' to chatter,' or ' cackle
as a goose ' ; it only survives in
this latter sense.]
1673. R. HEAD, Canting Acad., 36.
CANK. : dumb.
1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the Vul-
gar Tongue. CANK : dumb.
CANNIBAL, subs. (Cambridge Uni-
versity).— In the bumping races
at Cambridge, a college may be
represented by more than one
boat. The best talent is put into
the first, but it has sometimes
happened that the crew of the
second have got so well together
that it has disappointed the
prophets and bumped the first of
its own college. In this case it
is termed A CANNIBAL, it having
eaten up its own kind, and a fine
is enacted from it by the Univer-
sity Boat Club.
CANNIKIN or CANNiKEN,.57/&y. (old).
— The plague. [Grose includes
it in his dictionary under the
sense of ' a small can,' but this
was not a slang usage.]
1688. R. HOLME, Armoury. III.,
iii., § 68. CANNIKIN, the Plague. [M.]
1690. B. E., Diet. Cant. Crew. s.v.
CAN Nis-CovE, .fz/Ay.( American). — A
dog-fancier. [Either from Latin
cants, a dog, or the Fr. caniche^
poodle + COVE, a man.]
CANNON. — See CANON.
CANNON-BALLS, subs, (political). —
i. A nickname, now obsolete,
given to the irreconcileable oppo-
nents of free trade in England.
1858. Saturday Re-view, 30 Oct., p.
413, col. 2. The amendment . . . which
pealed for ever the fate of Protection, was
carried [in 1852] with only fifty dissentient
voices — the celebrated CANNON-BALLS.
[M.]
2. (venery). — The testicles.
For synonyms see CODS.
CANOE. To PADDLE ONE'S OWN
CANOE, phr. (American). — To
make one's own way in life ; to
exhibit skill and energy ; to
succeed unaided ; a slang phrase
of Western American origin, but
now universal. [Extremely care-
ful and clever manipulation is
required in the management of
canoes, especially in shooting
rapids ; otherwise the surging
body of water might swamp the
boat, or sunken rocks strike and
seriously damage it. Hence the
adoption of such an expression to
signify skill, close attention, and
Canon.
27
Canoodle.
energy.] A variant is TO BAIL
ONE'S OWN BOAT; and the French
have a proverbial saying, il conduit
or il mene bien sa barque.
1845. Harper s Magazine, May.
Voyager upon life's sea, to yourself be
true ; And, where'er your lot may be,
PADDLE YOUR OWN CANOE.
1868. Broadside Ballad, sung by
» HARRY CLIFTON. My wants are small, I
care not at all, If my debts are paid when
due. And to drive away strife on the ocean
Of life, I PADDLE MY OWN CANOE.
1870. C. H. SPURGEON. At Metro-
politan Tabernacle [speaking of Mr. John
Magregor said] — He puts his trust in God
and PALDLES HIS OWN CANOE.
1871. DE VERB, English of the New
World, p. 343. The familiarity with
boating, which the unsurpassed number of
watercourses all over the country naturally
produces everywhere, has led to the use,
not only of PADDLING ONE'S OWN CANOE,
. . . but also of ' bailing one's own boat,'
in the sense of ' minding one's own busi-
ness,' independently and without waiting
for help from others.
CANON or CANNON, adj. (thieves').
— Drunk. [The origin of this
term is very obscure, although
many guesses have been hazarded.
Amongst these may be mentioned
( i ) From the ' can ' having been
used freely. Rather less absurd
is (2) its derivation from the
French slang expressions un
canon, a glass drunk at the bar
of a wine-shop ; canonner, to
drink wine at a wine-shop, or to
be a habitual tippler ; se canonner,
to get drunk ; and un canonneur, a
tippler, v;ine-bibber, or drunkard,
Yet another suggested origin is
(3) from the German cannon, a
drinking cup, from which is ob-
tained canonised, = ' shot ' or
'drunk.' A German proverb
runs er ist geschossen, and Barrere
points out that CANON becomes
naturally confused with can, Ger-
man Kaune, a tankard, and
Canonenstiefel, or ' canon ' (f.e.,
long boots), a common pattern of
tankard.] For synonyms, see
SCREWED.
1879. J. W. HORSLEY, in Macm.
Mag., XL., 502. One night I was with
the mob, I got CANON (drunk), this being
the first time.
CANOODLE, verb (American). — i.
To fondle ; bill and coo ; indulge
in endearments. — See CANOOD-
LING. [There are two suggested
derivations — (i) from CANNIE in
the sense of gentle, and (2) that
the primary signification may have
been ' to act as a noodle,' i.e., to
play the fool.] For synonyms,
see FIRKYTOODLE.
1864. G. A. SALA, Temple Bar, Dec.,
p. 40. He is an adept in that branch of
persuasive dialectics known as conoodling.
He will CONOODLE the ladies (bless their
dear hearts ! and how sharp they think
themselves at making a bargain !) into
the acquisition of whole packages of gim-
crack merchandise.
1879. Punch, March 15, p. 117, col.
2. 'Our Representative Man.' Then
he and the matchless one struggle, snuggle,
and generally CONOODLE together rap-
turously. Then the matchless Ecstacy
being the wife, not of the Chevalier, but of
Charles VI., Kine of France, she, this
impulsive, loving, beautiful, hugging,
conoodling young Ecstacy, has the cool
impudence to declare that theirs is a
1 guiltless love.'
2. (Oxford University). — To
paddle or propel a canoe.
1879. E. H. MARSHALL, in Notes and
Queries, 5 S., xi., 375. When I was an
undergraduate at Oxford, to CANOODLE
was the slang expression for paddling
one's own canoe on the bosom of the
Cherwell or the Isis.
3 . ( American theatrical ) . — To
share profits.
18(?). Green Room Jokes. 'Pray,
good sir, what is a CANOODLER?' 'Tell
you, mum, queer business, mum, but
prosperous, money— heaps of it, mum, for
you and me ' — and he winked significantly,
jerked up a chair, and squatted in it, all in
a breath. . . . Undeterred, he rattled on :
Canoodler.
28
Cant.
1 I'm an original thinker, mum. Invent
bu>iness opportunities. Share 'm with
actors, and then we CANOODLE — divvy the
profits. Me and Sheridan made a big
thing on the Japanese advertising screen
in " School for Scandal ! " Big thing.' m
4. (common). — To coax.
CANOODLER.— See CANOODLE.
CANOODLING, verbal subs. (Ameri-
can).— Endearments.
1859. SALA, Twice Round the Clock,
ii a.m., par. 8. A sly kiss, and a squeeze,
and a pressure of the foot or so, and a
variety of harmless endearing blandish-
ments, known to our American cousins
(who are great adepts at sweet-hearting)
under the generic name of CONOODLING.
1864 and 1879. [See quots. under
Canoodle, sense i.]
CANT, subs, arid verb. — [As regards
derivation (whether noun or verb),
to signify the speech, phraseology,
or whine peculiar to thieves,
beggars, and vagrants, authorities
differ among and with themselves:
the word occurs as early as 1540,
and has long since achieved
respectability. Grose was pro-
bably wrong in thinking it a cor-
ruption of chaunting, and it was
certainly in use long prior to the
two Scotch clergymen, Oliver
and Andrew Cant, who are said
to have preached with such a
voice and such a manner as to
give their name to all speaking of
the same kind. A correspondent
of Notes and Queries (2 S., vii.,
158) suggests as a possible source
the ordinary word mendicant (fr.
Lat. mendico), but this is histori-
cally improbable, and the weight
of evidence is in favour of the
Latin cantus, singing or song,
though it must be observed that
neither the ancient nor the modern
usage implies a mere sing-song,
but rather the whine of one bent
on deceit. There is a con-
sciousness of hypocrisy be the
canting in connection with re-
ligion, politics, begging, or any-
thing else ; and this principle is
recognized in the attempt on the
part of The Scots Observer to sub-
stitute BLEAT (subs, and verb)
for the cant of aestheticism, the
cant which deals with art in the
language of sentiment and emotion .
It has been further suggested that
if the word meant singing, the
A.S. cantere is a much more
probable source of origin than
the Latin canto or cantus ; but
there is an argument which seems
to lend additional weight to the
claim of the latter language : the
French chanter, to sing, is some-
times used in the sense of CANT.
In answer to a whining, lying
tale (in reply indeed to anything
incredible whether whining or
brazen), a Frenchman would say,
' Qu est ce que vous chantez la. '
Whatever the derivation, how-
ever, there is little doubt that
Andrew Cant has little to do
with it ; indeed, Pennant in his
Tour in Scotland, vol. I., p. 122,
says that ' Andrew canted no
more than the rest of his brethren,
for he lived in a whining age.']
Subs. — i. The secret speech or
jargon of the vagrant classes —
gipsies, thieves, beggirs, etc. ;
hence, contemptuously, the pecu-
liar phraseology of a particular
class or subject. Identical with
THIEVES' LATIN, ST. GILES'
GREEK, PEDDLAR'S FRENCH,
etc. (q.v.) ; but for synonyms,
see FLASH.
1706. In PHILLIPS. [M.]
1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5 ed.)
CANT (s.) : a barbarous broken sort of
speech made use of by gypsies.
1856. C. REA DE, Never too Late, ch.
Cant.
29
Cant,
xlv. AH this not in English, but in
thieves' CANT.
Here follow specimens of
ancient and modern jargon.
Further illustrations will be found
in the canting songs in the Ap-
pendix.
[ANCIENT CANT.]
1567. HARMAN, Caveat (E.E.T. Soc.,
extra series, IX., 1869), p. 84-86. The
vpright Cofe canteth to the Roge. VPRIGHT-
MAN. — Bene Lightmans to thy quarromes,
in what lipken hast thou lypped in this
darkemans, whether in a lybbege, or in the
strummell ? ROGE. — I couched a hogshead
in a Skypper this darkemans. VPRIGHT-
MAN. — 1 towre the strummel trine vpon thy
nabchet and Togman. ROGE. — I saye by
the Salomon I will lage it of with a gage of
benebouse ; then cut to my nose watch.
MAN. — Why, hast thou any lowre in thy
bonge to bouse ? ROGE. — But a flagge, a
wyn, and a make, etc., etc., etc.
[MODERN THIEVES' LINGO.!
1881. New York Slang Dictionary.
Oh ! I'm fly. You mean jumping Jack,
who was done last week for heaving a
peter from a drag. But you talked of
padding the hoof. Why, sure, Jack had a
rattler and a prad ? ' ' Yes, but they
were spotted by the harmans, and so we
walked Spanish.' ' Was he nabbed on the
scent ? ' ' No ; his pal grew leaky and
cackled.' 'Well, Bell, here's the bingo-
sluice your gob ! But who was the cull
that peached ? ' 'A slubber de gullion
named Harry Long, who wanted to pass
for an out-and-out cracksman, though he
was merely a diver.' ' Whew ! I know
the kiddy like a copper, and saved him
once from lumping the lighter by putting in
buck. Why, he scarcely knows a jimmy
from a round robin, and Jack deserved the
tippet for making a law with him, as all
coves of his kidney blow the gab. But how
did you hare it to Romeville, Bell for I
suppose the jets cleaned you out?' ' I kidded
a swell in a snoozing-ken, and shook him of
his dummy and thimble.' ' Ah ! Bell !
you were always the blowen for a rum bing.'
2. (pugilistic) — a blow or toss.
[In Mem. Capt. P. Drake, II.,
xiv., 244 (1755), occurs this pas-
sage, ' To give me such a CANT
as I never had before or since,
which was the whole length of the
coffee-room ; he pitched me on my
head and shoulders under a large
table at the further end.' Transi-
tion from the nautical sense of
heeling over to that embodied in
' CANT on the chops,' is easy.] For
synonyms, see BANG, DIG, and
WIFE.
3. (tramps'). — Food. Also
KA.NT, but Cf., sense 4.
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London
Labour and London Poor, vol. III., p.
415. The house was good for a CANT —
that's some food — bread or meat.
1877. BESANT AND RICE, Son. of
Vulcan, pt. I., ch. ix. The slavey's been
always good for a KANT, and the cove for
a bob.
4. (tramps'). — A gift. [Possibly
connected with CANT, sense 3, a
share or portion.]
1857. SNOWDEN. Mag. Assistant, 3,
ed., p. 444. Gift of Clothes— CANT of
Togs.
Verb.-— i. To speak with the
beggar's whine.
1567. HARMAN, Caveat (1869), 34.
c It shall be lawefull for the to CANT —
that is, to aske or begge — ' for thy living in
al places.'
1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all,
p. 17 (B. Club's Repr., 1874). According
to the saying that you [thieves and cad-
gers] haue among your selues (If you can
CANT, you 'will neuer worke) shewing that
if they haue beene rogues so long, that
they can CANT, they will neuer settle
themselues to labour againe.
2. To speak the jargon of
gipsies, beggars, and other vag-
rants.— See CANTING.
1592. Defence of Conny-catcking, in
Greene's Works, XI., 45. At these wordes
Conny-catcher and Setter, I was driven
into as great a maze, as if one had dropt
out of the clowds, to heare a peasant CANT
the wordes of art belonging to our trade.
1609. DEKKER, English Villainies
(1638), And as these people are strange,
both in names and in their conditions, so
do they speake a language (proper only to
themselves) called Canting, which is more
strange. This word canting, seemes to be
Cantab.
Canter.
derived from the Latine Verbe(C#«/0) which
signifies in English to sing, or to make a
sounde with words, that is to say, to
speake. And very aptly may Canting take
its derivation, a cantando, from singing,
because amongst these beggerly consorts
that can play on no better instruments, the
language of canting is a kinde of Musicke,
and he that in such assemblies can CANT
best, is counted the best musician.
1639. FORD, Lady's Trial, V., i.
One can man a gulan, and CANT, and pick
a pocket.
1748. T DYCHE, Dictionary (5 ed.)
CANT (v.) : to talk gibberish like gypsies.
3. To speak ; to talk.
1567. HARMAN, Caveat (1814), p. 66.
To CANTE, to speake.
1881. New York Slang Dictionary.
1 On the trail.' ' But CANT us the cues.
What was the job?' 'A pinch for an
emperor's slang. We touched his leather
too, but it was very lathy.
CANTAB, suds, (colloquial). — A
student at Cambridge. [An ab-
breviation of * Cantabrigian. ']
1750. COVENTRY, Pomfey Litt. II.,
x. (1785), p. 18, col. i. The young CANTAB
. . . had come up to London. [M.]
1821. BYRON, Don yuan, c. Hi.,
st. 126. And I grown out of many ' wooden
spoons ' Of verse (the name with which we
CANTABS please To dub the last of honours
in degrees).
CANTABANK, subs. (old). — A com-
mon ballad singer. [From Latin
cantare, to sing, + banco, bench ;
i.e., a singer on a stage or plat-
form. ]
1589. PUTTENHAM, Eng. Ppesie
(Arb.), 96. Small and popular Musickes
song by these CANTABANQUI vpon benches
and barrels heads. [M.]
1834. TAYLOR, Ph. -van Art, pt. I.,
Hi., 2. He was no tavern CANTABANK
that made it, But a Squire minstrel of your
Highness1 court.
CANTANKEROUS, adj. (colloquial).
— Cross-grained ; ill-humoured;
self-willed ; productive of strife.
See also quot. 1773. [Thought
.to be derived from the M.E.
contak, conteke, contention or
quarrelling.] So also CANTAN-
KEROUSLY and CANTANKEROUS-
NESS. For synonyms, see CRUSTY.
1773. GOLDSMITH, She Stoops to
Conquer, II. There's not a more bitter
CANTANKEROUS road in all Christendom.
1775. SHERIDAN, Rivals, Act v., Sc.
3. But I hope Mr. Faulkland, as there
are three of us come on purpose for the
game, you wont be so CANTANKEROUS as
to spoil the party by sitting out.
1876, M. E. BR ADDON, Joshua Hag-
gard, ch. xvi. And who was to nurse this
peevish, CANTANKEROUS old man.
Hence the American verb, TO
CANTANKERATE, and adjective,
CANTANKERSOME.
1835. HALIBURTON (' Sam Slick '),
The Clockmaker, \ S., ch. xxiv. You may
[by contentious writing] happify your
inimies [and] CANTANKERATE your op-
ponents. Ibid, 3 S., ch. xii. Plato Frisk,
a jumphV Quaker, a terrible cross-grained
CANTANKERSOME Critter.
CANTE. — See CANTER.
CANTEEN MEDAL, subs. phr. (mili-
tary).— A good conduct stripe for
the consumption of liquor.
CANTER, subs. (old). — A vagrant or
beggar; one who CANTS (q.v.)
or uses the secret language
otherwise called Peddlars' French,
St. Giles' Greek, etc. The form
has varied, Greene using CANTE,
whilst many writers speak of the
fraternity as the CANTING CREW.
— See Appendix. [From CANT,
verb, sense i, + ER.]
1592. GREENE, Quip for Upst.
Courtiers, Harl, Misc, V., 396.
I fell into a great laughter, to see certain
Italianate CANTES, humourous cavaliers,
youthful gentlemen, etc.
1625. BEN JONSON, Staple of News,
Act ii. A rogue, a very CANTER I, sir,
one that maunds upon the pad.
1630. TAYLOR, (' Water Poet '), wks.
II., 239, i. Two leash of oyster-wives
Canticle.
Cap.
hyred a coach on a Thursday after Whit-
sontide . . . they were so be-madam'd, be-
mistrist, and ladified by the beggars, that
the foolish women began to swell with a
proud supposition or imaginary greatness,
and gave all their mony to the mendi-
canting CANTERS.
1878. CHARLES HINDLEY, Life and
Times of fames Catnach. ' Song of the
Young Prig.' My mother she dwelt in
Dyot's Isle, One of the CANTING CREW,
CANTICLE, subs. (old). — A parish
clerk. [From CANTICLE, a song
or psalm ; one of the duties of a
parish clerk being to lead the
congregational singing.] So
given in Grose [1785], and in the
Lexicon Balatronicum [1811].
Also called an AMEN CURLER
1871. London Figaro, 13 May, p. 3,
col. 2. ' Bill's dead on for a lark with the
CANTING bloke/ whispered a lean and
hungry-looking ' casual ' to a no less half-
starved neighbour,
CANTING CREW. — See CANTER.
CAN'T SAY NATIONAL INTELLI-
GENCER, phr. (American). — A eu-
phemistic expression equivalent
to 'drunk.' [The National In-
telligencer is an old Washington
newspaper.] For synonyms, see
SCREWED.
CAN'T SEE A HOLE IN A LADDER,
phr. (American). — Referring to a
superlative form of intoxication.
For synonyms, see SCREWED.
CANTING, verbal subs. (old). — The
jargon used by beggars, thieves,
gipsies, and vagrants. The same
as CANT, subs., sense I, which
seems to be an abbreviated and
later form of CANTING ; Cf. ' cab '
from ' cabriolet ' and ' bus ' from
'omnibus.'
1567. HARMAN, Caveat (1814), p. 6,
Their language which they terms ped-
delers Frenche or CANTING.
1610. JONSON, Alchemist, \\. Supr.
What a brave language here is ! next to
CANTING.
1688. SHADWELL, Sq. ofAlsatia. I.,
in wks. (1720) IV., 27. A particular
language which such rogues have made
to themselves, called CANTING, as beggars,
gipsies, thieves, and jail-birds do.
1742. JOHNSON, Highwayman and
Pyrates,p. 57. All the CANTING language
(which comprehends a parcel of invented
words, such as thieves very well know, and
b\r which they can distinguish one another
from the other classes of mankind.)
Ppl. adj. — Belonging to the
jargon of thieves and beggars.
1592. Groundwork Coney-Catch, 99
The manner of their CANTING speech [M.)
CANUCK. — See CANACK.
CANVASS. To RECEIVE THE CAN-
VASS, phr. (old). — A seventeenth
century colloquialism for ' to be
dismissed ' ; in modern slang ' to
get the sack.' — See BAG, sense 2,
and SACK.
1652. SHIRLEY, The Brothers, Act. ii.
As much as marriage comes to, and I lose
My honor, if the Don RECEIVES THE
CANVAS.
CANVASSEENS, subs, (nautical). —
Sailors' canvas trousers. For
synonyms, see BAGS and KICKS.
CANVASS-TOWN, subs, (general). —
The Volunteer Encampment at
Wimbledon or Bisley when the
National Rifle Association meets ;
also any camp or * baby '-city.
Cf., BULL'S-EYE VILLAS.
CAP, suds, (thieves').— i. A false
cover to a tossing coin, called a
covER-rowN. The cap showed
either head or tail as it was left
on or taken off. Obsolete.
Cap.
32 Cape Cod Turkey.
2. (old). — The proceeds of an
improvised collection. [Cf., 'to
send round the cap or hat.']
1851. EUREKA ; Sequel Ld. Russell's
Post Bag, 21. What amount of CAP is
realised out of an average field ? [M.]
3. (Westminster School). —
The amount of the collection at
Play and Election dinners. [From
the College cap being passed
round on the last night of Play
for contributions. Cf., 'to send
round the cap.']
Verb (thieves'). — I. To stand
by a friend ; to take part in any
undertaking ; to lend a hanH.
Grose has ' to take one's oath.'
1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the Vul-
gar Tongue. I will CAP downright ; 1 will
swear home.
2. (public schools' and Uni-
versity).— To take off or touch
one's hat in salutation ; also TO
CAP 10 and TO CAP IT.
1593. H. SMITH, Serm. (1871) I.,
203. How would they CAP me were I in
velvets. [M.]
1803. Gradus ad Cantabrigiam p. 23.
s.v. BORE Other bores are to attend a
sermon at St. Mary's on Sunday ... TO
CAP a fellow.
CAP ONE'S LUCKY, verbal phr.
(American thieves'). — To run
away. For synonyms, see AM-
PUTATE.
CAP or CAST ONE'S SKIN, verbal
phr. (thieves'). — To strip naked.
For synonyms, see PEEL.
To SET ONE'S CAP AT, phr.
(colloquial). — To set oneself to
gain the affections. Said only of
1773. GRAVES, Spiritual Quixote,
bk. III., ch. xi. I know several young
ladies who would be very happy in such
an opportunity of SETTING THEIR CAPS
AT him.
1773. O. GOLDSMITH, She Stoops to
Conquer, Act i., Sc. i. 'Well, if he re-
fuses .... I'll only break my glass for
its flattery, SET MY CAP to some newer
fashion, and look out for some less difficult
admirer.
1846. THACKERAY, V. Fair, ch. iii.
The wily old fellow said to his son, ' Have
a care, Joe ; that girl is SETTING HER CAP
AT you.'
TO CAP A QUOTATION, ANEC-
DOTE, PROVERB, &c.,phr. (collo-
quial ).— To fit with a second
from the same, or another, author ;
to ' go one better ' in the way of
anecdote or legend.
1584. PEELE, A rraignm. Paris, iy.,
ii. (1829) 48. Sh'ath CAPT his answer in
the cue. [M.]
1856. VAUGHAN, Mystics (1860) I.,
i. v. Now you come to Shakspeare, I
must CAP your quotation with another. [M .]
To PULL CAPS, phr. (collo-
quial). — To wrangle in an un-
seemly way. — Said only of
women.
1763. COLMAN, Deuce is in Him, I.,
in wks. (1777) IV., 120. A man that half
the women in town would PULL CAPS for.
1771. SMOLLETT, Humphry Clinker,
line 19. At length, they fairly proceeded
to PULLING CAPS, and everything seemed
to presage a general battle.
17(7). WOLCOT, P. Pindar, p. 140.
Behold our lofty duchesses PULL CAPS, And
give each other's reputation raps, As freely
as the drabs of Drury's school.
1825. SCOTT, St. Konan's Well, ch.
vii. Well, dearest Rachel, we will not
PULL CAPS about this man.
CAPE COD TURKEY, subs. pht.
(American). — A salted cod fish,
another name for which is
MARBLE -HEAD TURKEY. C/.,
BILLINGSGATE PHEASANT, YAR-
MOUTH CAPON, and ALBANY
BEEF.
1865. C. NORDHOFF, i May (in
letter). A salted cod fish is known in
American ships as a CAPE COD TURKEY.
Capella.
33
Caper.
1890. New York Herald, 3 June.
' Newfoundland Fishery Dispute.' Fac-
tories have bee n established for the pro-
duction of CAPE COD TURKEYS ; i.e., salted
cod fish.
CAPELLA, subs, (theatrical). — A
coat. [From the Italian.]
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Benja-
min ; cover-me-decently ; upper
benjamin (a great coat) ; Joseph ;
wrap-rascal ; bum-cooler or arse-
hole-perisher, or shaver (a short
jacket) ; claw-hammer, swallow-
tail, steel-pen (all three = a
dress coat) ; M. B. coat ; panu-
petaston ; rock-a-low ; reliever ;
pygostole ; ulster ; monkey-
jacket. See also CASTER, many
synonyms of which = a coat.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Un
cache-misere (familiar : specially
applied to a coat buttoned close
to the throat to conceal the
absence of a shirt or the soiled
state of one's linen) ; un alpague
(also alpaga and alpag} ; un
elbeuf; un Berry (a fatigue
jacket) ; une menuisiere (pop : a
long coat) ; un ne - te-gene - pas-
dans-le-parc (a short jacket ; also
termed un saute-en-barque, un
pet-en -Fair, and iin inontretouf}.
GERMAN SYNONYMS. Ober-
hdnger (an overcoat ; also a cloak).
Wattnusch (Hanoverian: corrup-
tion from the Hebrew malbusch =
clothes) ; Schwalbenschweif (a
dress-coat, a ' swallow-tail ').
ITALIAN SYNONYM. Tappe
(clothing in general ; it also
signifies 'feathers').
CAPE-NIGHTINGALE, subs, (colo-
nial).— A frog. CJ., CAMBRIDGE-
SHIRE NIGHTINGALE.
1889. H. A. BRYDEN, Kloof and
Karroo : or Sport, Legend, and Natural
History in Cape Colony. The very smell
of the water and the din of the huge frogs,
CAPE NIGHTINGALES as we call them,
revived them.
CAPEOVI, adj. (costers'). — Sick;
SEEDY (q.v. for synonyms). Cf.,
CAPIVI.
CAPER, suds, (vagrants'). — A device,
idea, performance, or occupation.
Americans use it in the same
sense as RACKET (q.v.}, e.g., the
'real estate racket' or 'CAPER.'
[From the figurative sense of
CAPER, signifying a fantastic pro-
ceeding, freak, or prank.] Also
used in the sense of ' the go,'
'the fad,' i.e., the latest fashion-
able fancy.
1867. London Herald, 23 March, p.
221. ' He'll get five years penal for this
little CAPER,' said the policeman.
1870. C. HINDLEY, Life and Adven-
tures of a Cheap Jack, p. 220. Charley
would reply . . . ' I have just done such
and such an amount to-day with these
people,' at the same time showing the
invoice of the goods he had just purchased
at the house where he got change for his
fifty sovereigns. The conversation, as a
rule, ended in Charley's giving them an
order too. Of course, this little CAPEK
would only ' wash ' once.
1884. J. GREENWOOD, The Little
Ragamuffins. ' Are you goin' a ' tottin' ? '
' No,' . . . ' Then what CAPER are you up
to?'
TO CUT A CAPER UPON NO-
THING, Or TO CUT CAPER SAUCE,
phr. (old). — To be hanged. For
synonyms, see LADDER.
170s. MOTTEUX, Rabelais. IV. xvi.
Two of the honestest Gentlemen in Catch-
poie-iand nad been made to CUT A CAPER
ON NOTHING.
1834. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood,
bk. III., ch. v. And my father, as I've
heard say, Was a merchant of CAPERS gay,
Who CUT HIS LAST FLING with great
applause.
3
Caper Juice.
34 Capper-Clawing.
CAPER-JUICE, subs. (American). —
Whiskey. [From CAPER, a freak
or antic + JUICE.] For syno-
nyms, see DRINKS.
1888. Portland Transcript, 29 Feb.
Say, fellers, let's take a leetle mo' uv the
CAPER JUICE. [They drink again. Sam
and the girl exchange affectionate
glances.]
CAPER-MERCHANT, subs. (old). — A
dancing master. [From CAPER,
a frolicsome leap or step, +
MERCHANT.] Also called a HOP-
MERCHANT (q.v. for synonyms).
1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the Vul-
gar Tongue. [Quoted as above.]
CAPITAL, To WORK CAPITAL, verbal
phr. (old). — To commit an
offence punishable with death.
1878. CHARLES HINDLEY, Life and
Times of James Catnach. And though
I don't WORK CAPITAL, And do not weigh
my weight, sirs, Who knows but that in
time I shall.
CAPIVI or CAPIVVY (vulgar). — Bal-
sam copaiba, a popular remedy for
clap.
To CRY CAPIVVY (sporting).
—To be persecuted to the death,
or very near it. In Handley Cross
[1843] Mr- Jorrocks promises to
make the foxes CRY CAPIVVY.
CAPON, subs, (popular). — Primarily,
a red herring; but applied to
other kinds of fish, herrings now
receiving the distinctive cognomen
of YARMOUTH CAPONS. The
usage is a very old one, and it is
notable that GLASGOW MAGIS-
TRATE, another name for a red
herring, was formerly GLASGOW
CAPON.
c. 1640. J. SMYTH, Hundred of
Berkeley (1885), 319. The Sole wee call
our Seuverne CAPON. [M.]
1690. B. E., Diet. Cant. Crew.
YxkMOUTH CAPON a Red Herring.
1719. RAMSEY, Hamilton, II., iii. A
GLASGOW CAPON and a fadge ye thought a
feast. [M.]
1812. W. TENNANT, Anster F., iv.
Each to his jaws A good Crail's CAPON
holds [note 'a dried haddock ']. [M.]
CAPPADOCHIO, CAPERDOCHY, or
CAPERDEWSIE, subs. (old). —
Nares says 'a cant term for a
prison.' [The same authority sug-
gests that it is a corruption of
Cappadocia : * The king of Cap-
padocia, says Horace, was rich
in slaves, but had little money.']
For synonyms, see CAGE.
1600. HEYWOOD, I. Ediv. IV. My
son's in Dybell here, in CAPERDOCHY, i'
the gaol.
1607. W. S., Puritan, in Supp.
Shaks., II., 510 (N.). How captain Idle?
my old aunt's son, my dear kinsman, in
CAPPADOCHIO?
1663. BUTLER, Hudibras, I.,ii., 832.
I here engage myself to loose ye, and free
your heels from CAPERDEWSIE.
CAPPER, subs. (American thieves').
— i. A confederate ; at cards
one who makes false bids in order
to encourage a genuine player.
[See CAP, vetb, sense i.]
1871. DE VERE, Americanisms,
p. 319. In the West a striker is not only
a shoulder-hitter, as might be suspected,
but a lunner for gambling establishments,
who must be as ready to strike down a
complaining victim as to ensnare an un-
suspecting stranger . . . CAPPERS they
are called, when the game is the famous
Three-Card Monte.
1881. New York Slang Dictionary.
Gamblers are called knights of the green
cloth, and their lieutenants, who are sent
out after greenhorns, are called decoys,
CAPPERS, and steerers.
2. (auctioneers'). — A dummy
bidder whose function is either to
start the bidding or to run up the
price of articles for sale.
CAPPER-CLAWING.— See CLAPPER-
CLAWING.
Captain.
35
Captain Sharp.
CAPTAIN, subs, (general). — i. A
familiar and jesting form of ad-
dress. An equivalent of ' gover-
nor,' 'boss,' etc. Very common
in U.S.A., where also it signifies
the conductor or guard of a train
— an analogy being drawn
between the phraseology of rail
and water traffic, (see quot. 1862).
1598. SHAKSPEARE King Henry IV.
pt. 2, Act ii., Sc. 4. Doll Tearsheet. A
CAPTAIN ! God's light, these villains will
make the word as odious as the word
' occupy.'
1862. Ru SSEL.L, Diary, North and S.,
I., xiii., 139. All the people who addressed
me byname prefixed ' Major ' or ' Colonel.'
'CAPTAIN' is very low. . . . The conductor
who took our tickets was called ' CAP-
TAIN.' [M.]
2. (old). — A gaming or bawdy
house bully. Cf., Fielding's
Captain Bilkum in Covent Garden
Tragedy. Fr. un major de table
d'hdte.
1731. Daily Journal, Jan. 9. ' List
of the officers established in the most
notorious gaming-houses.' i2th. A CAP-
TAIN, who is to fight any gentleman who
is peevish for losing his money.
1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary ($ ed.).
CAPTAIN (s.) . . . and in the Cant Phrase,
a CAPTAIN is a bully, who is to quarrel
or fight with peevish gamesters, who are
testy or quarrelsome at the loss of their
money ; and sometimes it signifies money
itself, as, ' the CAPTAIN is not at home,'
that is, there is no money in my pocket.
[CAPTAIN is also a fancy title for a
highwayman in a good way of business ;
Fletcher uses the term COPPER-CAPTAIN,
as also does Washington Irving, for one
who has no right to the title, and, in
modern athletics, we have the CAPTAIN of
a club or crew, with the corresponding
verb TO CAPTAIN.]
3. (old). — Money. — See pre-
ceding quot. [1748].
4. (knackers'). — A glandered
(horse).
CAPTAIN ARMSTRONG. To COME
CAPTAIN ARMSTRONG,//^, (turf)
— To ' pull ' a horse and thus
prevent him from winning.
CAPTAIN ARMSTRONG is often
used for a dishonest jockey. [A
play upon words, i.e., f to pull
with a strong arm.']
1864. Sporting Life, 5 Nov. (Leader).
CAPTAIN ARMSTRONG is again abroad,
muscular and powerful, riding his favourite
hobby in the steeple-chase field, preparing
thus early in the season for pulling, stopp-
ing, and putting the strings on.
CAPTAIN COPPERTHORN'S CREW.
subs. phr. (old). — All officers
Said of a company where every-
one wants to be first.
CAPTAIN CORK, subs. phr. (mili-
tary).— A nickname for a man
who is slow in passing the bottle.
CAPTAIN CRANK, subs. phr. (old).
— The chief of a gang of high way -
CAPTAIN GRAND, subs. phr. (old).
— A haughty, blustering fellow.
For synonyms, see FURIOSO.
CAPTAIN HACKUM, subs. phr. (old).
— A hectoring bully. — Grose.
CAPTAIN LIEUTENANT, subs. phr.
(old). — Meat neither young
enough for veal, nor old enough
for beef. [The simile is drawn
from the brevet officer who, while
ranking as captain, receives lieu-
tenant's pay.] — Grose.
CAPTAIN QUEERNABS, subs. phr.
(old). — A shabby or ill-dressed
man. For synonyms, see GUY.
CAPTAIN Quiz, subs. phr. (old). —
A mocker.
CAPTAIN SHARP, subs. phr. (old).—
A cheating bully, or one in a set
Captain Tom.
Card.
of gamblers, whose office it is to
bully the ' pigeon,' who refuses
to pay. — Grose. Cf., CAPTAIN,
sense 2.
CAPTAIN TOM, subs. phr. (old). —
The head or leader of a mob ; also
the mob itself. — Grose.
CARAVAN, stibs. (old). — i. A dupe;
gull ; a subject of plunder. — See
BUBBLE.
1676. ETHEREGE, Man of Mode, III.,
in., in wks. (1704), 233. What spruce prig
is that? A CARAVAN, lately come from
Paris.
1688. SHADWELL, Sg. of Alsatia.
[In list of cant words prefixed to.] CARA-
VAN : a bubble, the cheated.
1889. G. L. APPERSON, in Gentleman s
Magazine ('Seventeenth Century Collo-
quialisms'), p. 598. Towards the end of
the century a person easily gulled, or
' bubbled ' was known as a CARAVAN, but
earlier the term 'rook' which is now
restricted to a cheat or sharper, appears to
have been applied to the person cheated.
2. (old). — A large sum of
money.
1690 B. E., Diet. Cant. Crew.
CARAVAN : a good round sum of money
about a man, and him that is cheated of it.
3. (pugilistic). — A railway
train, especially a train expressly
chartered to convey people to a
prize fight. [Early in the present
century CARAVAN, now shortened
to 'van,' was applied to a third
class covered railway carriage ;
now a pleasure party is so des-
cribed ; also a gypsy's cart ; also
the wheeled cages of a travelling
menagerie.]
CARAVANSERA, subs, (pugilistic). —
A railway station. As thus :
' The scratch must be toed at
sharp five, so the caravan will
start at four from the CARAVAN -
SERA.' — Hotten. See CARAVAN,
e 3.
CARD, subs, (common). — i. A
device ; expedient ; or under-
taking ; that which is likely to
attain its object, or through
which success is sure. Thus we
have such expressions as a ' good
CARD,' a 'strong CARD,' a 'safe
CARD,' a ' likely, or a doubtful
CARD.' [Figurative; from card
playing.] THAT'S A SURE CARD
sounds modern, but as Lowell
has pointed out it is to be found
in the old interlude of ' 1'hursytes '
(1537).
1690. B. E., Die. Cant. Crew. A
SURE CARD, a trusty Tool, or Confiding
Man.
1763. FR. BROOKE, Lady J. Mande
ville, in Barbauld Brit. Novelists (1820)
xxvii., 23. Poor fellow ! I pity him ; but
marriage is his only CARD. [M.]
1826. SCOTT, Woodstock, III., xiv.,
358. No CARD seemed to turn up favour-
able to the royal cause.
2. A character ; an odd fish ;
an eccentric ; generally coupled
with such adjectives as ' know-
ing,' 'old,' 'queer,' 'downy,'
'rum, 'etc. [Apparently derived
from the caid-table, such expres-
sions as a ' sure card,' a ' sound
card,' being of very ancient use.
Osric tells Hamlet that Laertes is
the CARD and calendar of gentry.
— (Hamlet, v., 2.)]
1835. DICKENS, Sketches by Boz, 264.
Mr. Thomas Potter, whose great aim it
was to be considered as a knowing CARD.
1852. DICKENS, Bleak House, ch. xx.,
p. 173. ' Such an old CARD as this ; so
deep, so sly, and secret.'
1854. WHYTE MELVILLE, General
Bounce, ch. ii. Frank Hardingstone was,
to use their favourite word, 'a great CARD '
amongst all the associates of his age and
standing.
1854. WHYTE MELVILLE, General
Bounce, ch. xii. A quaint boy at Eton,
cool hand at Oxford, a deep CARD in the
regiment, man or woman never yet had
the best of ' Uppy.'
Card.
37
Cardinal.
1864. DICKENS, Our Mutual friend.
bk. III., ch. i. ' You're one of the Patri-
archs ; you're a shaky old CARD ; and you
can't be in love with this Lizzie.'
3. (common). — The 'ticket ' ;
the ' figure '; the correct thing.
[Possibly from the K'RECT CARD
{q.v. ) of racing.]
1851. MAYHEW, London Labour and
London Poor, II., p. 47. I've got IDS.
often for a great coat, and higher and
lower, oftener lower in course ; but los. is
about the CARD for a good thing.
Verb. — Also CARDING, subs.
(Irish Nationalist). A peculiar
form of torture, which consists in
the application of the card, a
spiked or toothed implement used
in the preparation of flax and
wool, to the naked shoulders,
&c. , and is commonly reserved for
' unpatriotic ' girls and women.
1889. The Scots Observer. 'They
never told the ramping crowd to CARD a
woman's hide.'
TO GIVE ONE CARDS, phr.
(American). — To give one an ad-
vantage. The English equiva-
lent, ' to give points,' is derived
from the billiard saloon. An
analogous French phrase is faire
un bceuf.
18S8. Grip (Toronto), May. You
know that Artie found a Chinaman out
in 'Frisco who could GIVE HIM CARDS and
spades and beat him out.
ON THE CARDS, phr. (com-
mon).— Within the range of pro-
bability. [Dickens popularised
the expression, which appears to
mean ' possible to turn up,' as
anything in the game when the
cards are turned up. Still, it is
not unlikely that the phrase
originated with cartomancy, at a
time when cards were frequently
consulted as to the issue of enter-
prises.] SeeN. and Q., 7 s. iv.,
507 ; v. 14, 77, 495.
1749. SMOLLETT, Translation of il
Bias. I showed them tricks which they
did not know to be ON THE CARDS, and
yet acknowledged to be better than their
own.
1813. SIR R. WILSON, Diary, II., 40.
It is not OUT OK THE CARDS that we might
do more. \M.]
1849. DICKENS, David Cppperfield,
I., p. 219. By wav of going in for any-
thing that might be ON THE CARDS,
petition to the House of Commons, etc.
1868. W. COLLINS, Moonstone, I.,
p. 149. It's quite ON THE CARDS, sir, that
you have put the clue into our hands.
1874. Saturday Review, April, p. 488.
When they discovered that a Restoration
was not at present ON THE CARDS, they
became Conservatives.
1890. H. D. TRAILL, A Bulgarian
Appeal. 'Saturday Songs,' p. 43. I'll
be shot if I do, though it's equally true
That it's quite ON THE CARDS I'll be shot
if 1 don't.
To PACK, STOCK, or PUT UP,
THE CARDS, phr. (Western Ameri-
can).— To prepare cards for cheat-
ing purposes. — See CONCAVES,
PACK, and STOCK BROADS.
TO SPEAK BY THE CARD, phr.
(general). — To speak with pre-
cision ; or with the utmost accu-
racy. [An allusion to the card of
the mariner's compass.]
1596. SHAKSPEARE, Hamlet, v., i,
149. We must SPEAK BY THE CARD, or
equivocation will undo us.
1867. YATES, Forlorn Hope, i., p. 23.
'Are you SPEAKING BY THE CARD?' said
Count Bulow, with the slightest foreign
accent.
1879. TROLLOPE, Thackeray [in
' English men of Letters ' series], p. 186.
Hemy Esmond . . . however, is not made
to SPEAK altogether BY THE CARD, or he
would be unnatural.
CARDINAL, subs. (old). — i. A red
cloak worn by ladits circa 1740
and later. [From the colour and
shape which suggested a cardinal's
vestment.]
Care.
Cargo.
1755. Connoisseur, No. 62. That
fashionable cloak . . . which indeed is
with great propriety styled the CARDINAL.
1755. The World, No. 127. I have
made no objection to their (the ladies)
wearing the CARDINAL, though it be a habit
of popish etymology, and was, I am
afraid, first invented to hide the sluttish-
ness of French dishabille.
1881. BESANT AND RICE, Chap, of
the Fleet, pt. i, ch. iv. In the windows of
which were hoods, CARDINALS, sashes,
pinners, and shawls.
2. (general). — Mulled red
wine.
1861. HUGHES, Tom Brown at Ox-
ford, ch. xv. He goes up, and finds the
remains of the supper, Tankards full of
egg-flip and CARDINAL, and a party playing
at vingt-un.
3. in plural (street). — Shoe-
blacks. [In allusion to the red
tunics of some London brigades.
That stationed in the City is now
better known as the CITY REDS.]
1889. T. MACK AY [on ' Shoeblacks '],
in Time, Aug., p. 132. From that hour
the Shoeblack Brigade has been firmly
established in London . . . costermongers
called them CARDINALS.
4. (American). — A lobster;
from its colour when cooked.
Jules Janin once made a curious
blunder and called the lobster le
cardinal de la mer. CARDINAL
HASH = a lobster salad.
5. (common). — A new [1890]
variety of red.
CARE. NOT TO CARE or BE WORTH
A [FIG, PIN, RAP, BUTTON, CENT,
STRAW, RUSH, or HANG, etc.],
phr. (colloquial). — Similes of in-
difference ; to care about a matter
not even so much as to the value
of a fig, a pin, or a straw. Fr.
s'en battre Fail. — See NOT WORTH
A FIG.
1590. SPENSER, Fairie Queene, I., ii.,
12. He ... CARED NOT for God or man
A POINT. [M.]
1633. MARMYON, Fine Compan., II.,
i., 68. I do not CARE A PIN for her. [M.]
1709. STEELE, Tatler, No. 50. I do
not CARE A FARTHING for you. [M.]
1760. GOLDSMITH, Citizen of the
World, xlvi. Not that I CARE 'THREE
DAMNS what figure I may cut.
1833. MARRYAT, Peter Simple, ed.
1846, vol. I., ch. iii., p. 13. You told him
you did not CARE A FIG for him.
1848-62. J. R. LOWELL, Biglow
Papers. ' Don't fire,' sez Joe, ' it ain't no
use, Thet Deacon Peleg's tame wi I- 'goose ' ;
Seys Isrel, ' I don't CARE A CENT, I've
sighted an' I'll let her went.'
1871. London Figaro, May 13, p. 4,
col. 2. Coster Ballads, 'Found Drowned.'
' Well, sir, to cut it short, she 'ad the
chap — 'Twos cruel 'ard on me — I don't
believe he CARED for 'er A RAP, But so it
wos, yer see.'
1889. Answers, June 22, p. 40, col. i.
' Is it for sale ? ' demanded the visitor, ex-
citedly. ' If it is I want it. I don't CAKE
A SNAP what it costs.'
I DON'T CARE IF I DO, phr.
(American). — A street phrase,
meaning nothing in particular.
Also a form of accepting an invi-
tation to drink : ' Will you peg ? '
' I DON'T CARE IF i DO.'
1888. New York Tribune. Volapuk
will never be popular in Kentucky. It
contains no sentence to take the place of
that classic phrase, I DON'T CARE IF I no.
CARE-GRINDER, subs, (thieves'). —
More usually the VERTICAL CARE-
GRINDER. — See quot. For syn-
onyms, see WHEEL OF LIFE.
1883. Echo, Jan. 25, p. 2, col 4. The
treadmill again, is more politely called
... the wheel of life, or the VERTICAL-
CARE-GRINDER.
CARGO, subs. (Winchester College).
— A hamper from home. The
word is still in use.
1870. MANSFIELD, School Life at
Winchester College, p. 77. The boys,
eager for breakfast, tumultuously rushed
out from school-court ... to see if Poole,
Carler.
39
Car oon.
the porter, had letters, or, what was even
more delightful, a CARGO (a hamper of
game or eatables from home).
1883. Every-day Life in our Public
Schools. Scholars may supplement their
fare with jam, potted meats . . . or, better
still, from the contents of CARGOES, i.e.,
hampers from home.
CARLER, subs. (New York thieves').
— A clerk. For synonyms, see
QUILL-DRIVER.
CARLICUES.— See CURLYCUES.
CARNEY or CARNY, subs, (collo-
quial).— Soothing and seductive
flattery ; language covering a
design. [The origin is unknown,
though some have conjectured the
word to be of Irish derivation.
As a verb it first appears as a
dialecticism, and is now mostly
in use as a///, adj. — CARNEYING
(q.v.). The word, however,
seems to be fast making its way
into respectable usage, and is
even now largely in literary use.]
Verb, tr. and intrans. — To
wheedle ; coax or insinuate one-
self ; to act in a cajoleing manner.
— See CARNEYING.
CARNEYING,///. adj. (common). —
In a wheedling, coaxing, or in-
sinuating manner. Cf. , CARNEY.
1851-61. H.MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor,vo\. II., p. 566. When I
tried to turn 'em off they'd say, in a
CARNYING way, ' Oh, let us stay on,' so I
never took no heed of 'em.
1869. II. J. BYRON, Not such a Fool
as He Looks [French's Acting ed.], p, 12.
Sharp old skinflint, downy old robber as he
is, he's under Jane Mould's thumb, and
well he knows it. (In CARNEYING voice)
With many thanks, sir, for your kind at-
tention to my^case.
1871. Daily Telegraph, 15 May,
' Critique on Mr. H. J. Byron's Play of
An English Gentleman? Rachel does
not like Brandon's CARNEYING ways.
1884. R. L. STEVENSON in Eng.
Illustr. Mag., Feb., p. 305. The female
dog, that mass of CARNEYING affectations.
1885. CLEMENT SCOTT, in ///. Lon.
News, 3 Oct., p. 339, 2. The change from
the CARNEYING, wheedling sneak to the
cowardly bully, is extremely clever.
GARNISH, stris. (thieves'). — Meat.
[From the Italian came, flesh,
through the Lingua Franca.
Came, in French argot, signifies
tottgh meat.]
FRENCH SYNONYMS. La crie,
crigne, or crignolle (thieves' :
Old Cant ; Greek, fcpj'ae ; Four-
besque, crea, creata, creatura,
criulfa ; Germania, crioja)', la
criolle (thieves') ; la niorte
(thieves') ; la barbaque or bidoche
(popular) ; le cholera (popular —
bad meat) ; le mastic (= bread or
meat).
GERMAN SYNONYMS. Kcirner
(this is the same as GARNISH and
comes from the Italian carne ;
Karnerfetzer = a butcher).
ITALIAN SYNONYMS. Bronco
(specially applied to beef) ; sta*
vigna ; crea (see remarks under
crie in French synonyms).
CARNISH-KEN, subs, (thieves'). — A
thieves' eating house, or prog-
shop. [From GARNISH, meat,
through the Italian carne, +
KEN, a house or dwelling.] A
French equivalent for the pro-
prietor of such a place is unfripier^
a term which also means a cook,
a ' dripping ' or old clothes' man.
CARNY. — See CARNEY.
CAROON, subs, (costermongers'). —
A five shilling piece. [Hotten and
Barrere trace it to the French
couronne, Spanish and Italian
Carpet.
40
Carpet-Bagger.
corona ; it is in all probability a
mispronunciation of the English
word ' crown. ']
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Bull,
or bull's-eye ; cartwheel, coach-
wheel, or simply wheel ; tushe-
roon ; dollar ; thick 'un (obsolete,
the term being now applied to a
sovereign) ; case ; caser ; decus.
The nearest French equivalent,
a five franc piece, is called tin
rotie de detriere (literally ' a hind
wheel,' and corresponding pretty
closely to the English WHEEL,
CARTWHEEL, and COACHWHEEL) ;
un bouton de guetre ; un blafard
de cinq balles ; une drill e or
dringue ; une croix (the old six
franc piece, in allusion to the
cross inscribed on it) ; tim chatte
(a piece of six francs : very old ;
and formerly prostitutes') ; une
medaille or medaille de St. Hubert
(popular) ; un nionarque (popu-
lar) ; un ceil de bceuf(— an ox's
eye) ; tin noble etran^ere (literary :
= a distinguished stranger).
1859. G. W. MATSELL, Vocabulunr,
or the Rogue's Lexicon. Kersey-mere
kicksies, any colour, built very slap with
the artful dodge, from three CAROON.
CARPET, verb (colloquial). — To
reprimand. Equivalents are to
* call over the coals,' to ' give a
wigging' or 'earwigging,' etc.
The phrase sometimes runs ' TO
WALK THE CARPET.' So also
CARPETING : for synonym=, see
WIG.
1823. GALT, Entail, III., xxix., 278.
Making .... her servants WALK THE
CARPET. [M.]
1840. H. COCKTON, Valentine Vox,
xli. They had done nothing ! Why were
they CARPETED?
1871. Chester Chronicle, n Feb.
1 Report of Affiliation Case at Hawarden
Petty Sessions,' [The plaintiff, Louisa
JacV«on, said] neither did Lunt, the page,
say that night if her master knew of her
coming home in that state she would be
CARPETED for it.
1877. HAWI.EY SMART, Bound to
Win, ch. xxx. There is no hurry ; but,
before the race, I think Mr. Luxmoore will
have to CARPET Sam.
TO BRING ON THE CARPET.
To bring up or forward. A slang
rendering of mettre sur le tapis.
CARPET-BAG, subs, used attribu-
tively as adj. (American). — See
CARPET-BAGGER for explanation
of such phrases as CARPET-BAG
rule, CARPET-BAG adventurers,
CARPET-BAG government, etc.
1872. New York Herald, 22 Aug.
Hundreds of millions have been taken from
the pockets of the people since the beginn-
ing of the war by dishonest contractors,
unjust claimants, county robbers, and city
plunderers, and CARPET-BAG State
Governments. Ibid. The Tammany
robberies, although trifling in comparison
with the old revenue robberies, and the
present wholesale plunder of the CARPET-
BAG Governments in the South, etc.
1888. Chicago Record. The head of
the ticket is one of the most vulnerable
men who figured in Southern politics in
the CARPET-BAG era. No man of that
period left a blacker record.
CARPET-BAGGER, subs. (American
political). — A political adven-
turer. [After the Civil War,
numbers of Northerners went
South. Honest or not, they
we e looked upon with suspicion
by the Southerners, and, as they
were generally Republican in
politics andjoined with the freed-
men at the pells, the nickname
CARPET-BAGGER came to have,
and still retains, a political signifi-
cance. It was unjustly applied
to many well-meaning men, but
at the same time it fitted the
horde of corrupt adventurers who
infested the South, and whose
only ' property qualification ' was
contained in the carpet bag with
Carpet- Bag Recruit. 41
Carrots.
which they had arrived from the
North. Originally, however, a
CARPET-BAGGER was a ' wild-cat
banker * out West : a banker,
that is, who had no local abiding
place, his worldly possessions
being contained in a carpet bag.]
Applied to politics the term has
become of general application. —
C/., SCALAWAG.
1868. Daily News, Sept. 18. All
CARPET-BAGGERS and ' scalawags ' aie
whites. The CARPET-BAGGERS are irnm -
grants from the North who have throw n
themselves into local politics, and through
their influence with the negroes obtained
office.
1871. New York Post, , April. 'The
general drift of public sentiment is, that
the CARPET-BAGGERS, scalawags, ex-
slaves, ex-slaveholders, rebels recon-
structed, rebels unreconstructed, and
Southern loyalists should be left, for a
brief period at least, to fight out their
own battles, in their own way ; and that
if the nation is ever again to become a
party to their quarrels, it shall be on no
slight pretext and for no trivial purpose.'
1877. Temple Bar, May, p. 107. At
the same moment a swarm of adventurers
settled in the conquered states, and became
governors, judges, tax-collectors, and so
on. These are the CARPET-BAGGERS of
history. They came with two shirts, got
salaries of (on an average) four thousand
dollars per annum, and made fortunes of a
million in four years !
CARPET-BAG RECRUIT, subs. phr.
(military). — A recruit of better
than the ordinary standing ; one
with more than he stands upright
CARPET-SWAB, subs, (common). —
A carpet-bag.
1837. BARHAM, I.L. (Misadv. at
Margate). A little gallows-looking chap
— dear me ! what could he mean ? With a
CARPET-SWAB and mucking togs, and a
hat turned up with green.
CARRIER, subs. (old). — See quot.,
and Cf., CARRIER-PIGEON.
1725. New Cant. Diet. CARRIERS :
a sett of Rogues . . . employ'd to look out,
and watch upon the Roads, at Inn-;, etc.,
in order to carry Information to their
respective Gangs, of a booty in Prospect.
CARRIER-PIGEON, subs. (old). — i.
A cheat — especially one who
victimised lottery office keepers.
Cf., CARRIER.
1781. G.PARKER, View of Society,
II., 64 [named and described in].
17 '5. GROSE, Dictionary of the Vul-
gar Tongue. CARRIER PIGEONS ; sharpers
who attend the drawing of the lottery in
Guildhall, and as soon as a number or
two are drawn, write them on a card, and
run with them to a confederate, who is
waiting near at hand, ready mounted ;
with these numbers he rides full speed to
some distant insurance office before fixed on,
where there is another of the gang, com-
monly a decent-looking woman, who takes
care to be at the office before the hour of
drawing ; to her he secretly gives the
number, which she insures for a considerable
sum, thus biting the biter.
2. (racing). — One that runs
from place to place with * com-
mi^sions ' ; a kind of tout.
CARRION, subs, (venery). — I. A
prostitute. For synonyms, see
BARRACK-HACK and TART.
2. (common). — The human
body ; formerly a corpse.
CARRION CASE, subs, (common). —
A shirt or chemise. [From
CARRION, the human body, 4-
CASE, a covering.] For synonyms,
see FLESH BAG.
CARRION HUNTER, suds. (old). — An
undertaker. [CARRION was
formerly general to signify a
corpse]. For synonyms, see COLD
COOK.
1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the Vulgar
Tongue. CARRION HUNTER: an under-
taker, etc.
CARROTS, subs, (popular). — Red
hair. Used attributively, and
also as a proper name. The
Carry Boodle.
42
Carry Me Out.
adjectival form is CARROTTY.
An analogous colloquialism is
GINGER-HACKLED, which see for
synonyms.
1685. S. WESLEY, Maggots, 57. The
Ancients . . . Pure CARROTS call'd pure
threads of beaten gold. [M.]
1690. B. E.. Diet. Cant. Crew.
CARROTS : Red hair'd People.
1703. T. BAKER, Tunbridge Walks,
quoted in Ashton's Social Life in Reign of
Q. Anne, I., 129. Jenny Trapes ! What
that CARROT-pated Jade.
1748. SMOLLETT, Rod, Random, ch.
xiv. Not to appear before Mr. Cringer
till I had parted with my CARROTY locks.
1848. THACKERAY, Book of Snobs,
ch. vii. ' Blanche, with her radish of a
nose, and her CARROTS of ringle s.'
1855. Neivcomes, ch. xxii. ' Tom is
here with a fine CARROTY beard.
1864. MARK LEMON, Jest Book, p.
205. CARROTS CLASSICALLY CONSIDERED.
Why scorn red hair ? The Greeks, we know
(I note it here in charity) Had taste in
beauty, and with them The graces were all
Xapircu.
1882. Daily Telegraph, Oct. 6, p. 2,
col. i. The two elder of the party were
a boy and a girl of unmistakably Irish
parentage, and with unkempt and
CARROTTY heads of hair.
TAKE A CARROT ! (common).
— A vulgar insult ; equivalent to
calling one a fool, or telling one
to ' go to hell.' The phrase was
originally obscene [Cf., Et ta
sceur ! aime-t-elle les rails ?~\ and
applied to women only.
CARRY BOODLE, verbal phr. (Ameri-
can).— See BOODLE.
CARRY COALS, verbal phr. (obso-
lete).— To put up with insults ; to
endure an affront or injury.
1593. G. HARVEY, Pierces Supererog.,
in wks. II., 32. Because Silence may
seeme suspicious to many : Patience con-
temptible to some ... a knowne forbearer
of Libellers, a continuall BEARER OF
COALES.
1595. SHAKSPEARE, Romeo and Juliet
i., i. Gregory o' my word, we'll not
CARRY COALS.
1638. H. SHIRLEY, Martyr1 dSouldier,
Act ii., Sc. i. Hub. I can CARRY anything
but Blowes, COLES, my Drink, and — the
tongue of a Scould.
CARRY Co *n,rerbalphr. (common).
— To bear success well and
equably. It is said cf a man who
breaks down under a sudden
access of wealth — as successful
racing men and unexpecte I
legatees often do — or who
becomes affected and intolerant,
that ' he doesn't CARRY CORN
well.'
CARRYINGS ON, subs. phr. (collo-
quial).— Frolicsome or question-
able proceedings ; a course of
conduct that attracts attention. —
See CARRY ON.
1663. BUTLER, Hudibras, I., ii., 556.
Is this the end to which these CARRYINGS
ON did tend ?
1859. SALA, Gaslight and Daylight,
ch. xxi. Many have heard her stern
demands for rent, and her shrill denun-
ciation of the CARRYINGS ON of her tenants.
1876. M. S. BRADDON, Joshua
Haggard, ch., iv. 'And what about the
rest of the time when he wasn't with you ?
Fine CARRYINGS ON indeed for a grocer's
daughter ! '
CARRY-KNAVE, subs. (old). — A com-
mon prostitute. For synonyms,
see BARRACK-HACK and TART.
1630. Taylors Workes. And I doe
wish with all my heart that the super-
flous number of all our hyreling hackney
CARRY-KNAVES, and hurry-whores, with
their makers and maintainers were there.
CARRY ME OUT AND BURY ME
DECENTLY, phr. (general). — An
exclamation or objurgation gene-
rally called forth by an incre-
dible story, or by something dis-
pleasing to the auditor ; varied
by 'LET ME DIE!' 'GOOD
Cany on.
43
Cart.
NIGHT ! ' etc., as also by ' CARRY
ME HOME!' 'CARRY ME UP-
STAIRS !' 'CARRY ME OUT AND
LEAVE ME IN THE GUTTER ! '
A writer in Notes and Queries
[2 S., iii., 387] states it to have
been in use circa 1780. [The
origin is obscure, but some derive
it from the Nunc dimittis (Luke
ii. 29).]
1857. Notes and Queries, 16 May,
p. 387, col. 2. CARRY ME OUT AND BURY
ME DECENTLY. Do any of your corres-
pondents recollect to have heard this
phrase ?
1861. HUGHES, Tom Brown at
Oxford, ch. xlv. And so the president
comes out to see the St. Ambrose boat row ?
Seldom misses two nights running. Then
'CARRY ME OUT, AND BURY ME DECENTLY1
. . Don't be afraid. I am ready for any-
thing you like to tell me.
1864. The Reader, Nov. 12. Mr.
Hotten has CARKY ME OUT. Well the
equivalent ' Federal ' is ' D'you tell ? '
CARRY ON, verbal phr. (colloquial).
— To make oneself conspicuous by
a certain line of behaviour ; to
conduct oneself wildly or reck-
lessly ; to joke or frolic ; als > in
a special sense applied to open
flirtation on the part of both
sexes.
French equivalents are ca-
narder (based on canard — a
' take in,' an extravagant or
absurd story) ; faire du jardin
(popular).
1856. WHYTE MELVILLE, Kate.
Coventry, ch. iii. With lynx-eyes she
notes how Lady Carmine's eldest girl is
CARRYING ON with young Thriftless.
1876. BESANT AND RICE, Golden
Butterfly, ch. xxxv. ' She and 1 CARRIED
ON for a whole season. People talked.
1884. M. TWAIN, Huckleberry Finn,
ch. xxii., 222. And all the time that clown
CARRIED ON so it most killed the people.
CARRY ONE'S REAL ESTATE
ABOUT ONE, verbal phr. (Ameri-
can). — To neglect the finger
nails till they show a black
rim ; to go so unwashed as to
display a considerable amount
of what Palmerston called
' matter in the wrong place. '
1877. JOSEPH HATTON, in Belgravia,
April, p. 221. We looked at the hands of
several of the gamblers, and found that
they CARRIED THEIR REAL ESTATE with
them.
CARRY OUT ONE'S BAT.— See BAT.
CARRY THE STICK, verbal phr.
(Scotch thieves'). — To rob in the
manner described in quotation. —
See also TRIPPING UP.
1870. Times. 21 Sept [Maryborough
Street Police Court Report.] Police
Sergeant Cole said the prisoner's plan
was for the woman to go up to well-dressed
elderly or drunken men, to get them into
conversation, and rob them. The male
prisoner would then come up, and, pretend-
ing to be a detective, make a disturbance,
so as to enable the woman to escape. The
prac
and i
CARRYING THE STICK.
:tice was called in London 'trippingup,'
in Scotland, where it is also practised,
CARSEY, subs, (thieves').— A house,
den, or crib. [From the Lingua
Franca casa = a house.] For
synonyms, see KEN.
CART, verb (University). — To de-
feat : in a match, a fight, an
examination, a race, &c. We
CARTED them home = we gave
them an awful licking.
IN THE CART, or CARTED,
phr. (racing). — I. An employee
is said to put an owner IN THE
CART when, by some trick or
fraud, his horse is prevented from
winning. Also IN THE BOX.
1889. Evening Standard, 25 June.
[Sir Chas. Russell's speech in Durham-
Chetwynd case.] It was alleged that in
two races run by Fullerton in 1887, Sir
George Chetwynd— to use a vulgarism —
had been put IN THE cart by his Jockey.
Carl Grease.
Cascade.
2. (common). — ' In the know';
'in the hunt.'
1883. Referee, i April, p. i, col. i.
No one, not even the previously most
authoritative— and most IN THE CART—
seems at all astonished at the success of
Knight of Burghley.
3. (gaming). — The lowest scorer
at any point is said to be IN THE
CART ; sometimes ON T.HE TAIL-
BOARD.
TO WALK THE CART, phr.
(racing). — To walk over the
course.
TO CART OFF Or OUT, or AWAY,
phr. (colloquial). — To remove.
CART-GREASE, subs, (common). —
Butter ; in the first instance bad
butter.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Cow-
grease ; Thames mud ; cow-oil ;
spread ; scrape ; smear ; ointment ;
sluter.
FRENCH SYNONYM. Le fondant
GERMAN SYNONYMS. Schmier-
lin% (Schmier'vs, properly 'grease,'
especially * wheel-grease,' also
* oin'ment.' The term is, there-
fore, practically identical with
cart-grease) ; Schmtmk (used by
knackers . Schmunki% signifies
* fat ' of any kind, but especially
that of horses).
CARTS, subs, (common). — A pair of
shoes. For synonyms, see
TROTTER-CASES.
CART-WHEEL, subs, (popular) — i.
A five-shilling piece. A variant
is COACH - WHEEL, and both
forms are often contracted into
WHEEL. For synonyms, see
CAROON.
1871. London Figaro, 15 Feb. ' Morn-
ings at Mutton's.' 'I he coin of the realm
in question was the largest that we have
known in the present century — so large,
that, in the slang language of thieves and
costermongers, it is called a CART-
WHEEL, ' coach-wheel ' and ' thick-'un.'
It was, in fact, a crown-piece.
2. (popular). — A broad hint.
3. (popular). — A continuous
series of somersaults in which the
hands and feet alternately touch
the ground, the appearance pro
duced being similar to the spokes
of a cart wheel in motion. Other-
wise called a CATHARINE
WHEEL.
1851. MAYHEW, London Labour and
London Poor, II., p. 562. We either do
the CAT'I/NWHEEL (Sic) or else we keep
before the gentleman and lady, turning
head-over-heels. Ib., p. 564: at night I
go along with the others tumbling. I
does the CAT'ENWHEEL. (Sic.)
1864. SALA, in Daily Telegraph, Dec.
23. I saw a little . . . blackguard boy
turning CARTWHEELS in front of the
Clifton House.
CARVER AND GILDER, subs. phr.
(common). — A match maker.
Cf., FINGERSMITH, a midwife.
CASA. — See CASE.
CASCADE, subs. (Australian). — i. In
Tasmania beer is called CASCADE
because manufactured from
' cascade ' water. Cf., ARTESIAN.
For synonyms, see SWIPES and
DRINKS.
2. (theatrical). — Explained
by quotation. Another name for
the same effect is HANG OUT.
1851. MAYHEW, Lon. Lab. and Lon.
Poor, III., p. 156. The principal distinc-
tion between pantomimes and ballets is
that there are more CASCADES, and trips,
and valleys in pantomimes, and none in
ballets. A trip i« a dance between
Harlequin and the Columbine, aid
CASCADES and valleys are trundling and
Case.
45
Case,
gymnastic performances, such as tumbling
across the stage on wheels, and catching
hold of hands and twirling round.
Verb (old). — To vomit,
synonyms, see ACCOUNTS,
For
1771. SMOLLETT, Humphry Clinker,
III., Oct. 4, iii. She CASCADED in his
urn.
1836. M. SCOTT, Tom Cringle's Log,
ch. ii. I daresay five hundred lank and
file, at the fewest, were all CASCADING at
one and the same moment.
CASE, subs, (colloquial). — I. A cer-
tainty in fact, an accentuated
or abnormal instance in character.
When two persons fall in love, or
are engaged to marry, it is said to
be a CASE with them. An
eccentric person is likewise a
CASE. [As a designation for
persons, CASE probably had its
origin in Journalese and Police-
court English ; e.g. , a CASE of
larceny.]
1848. BARTLETT, Dictionary of Ame-
ricanisms. CASE : a character, a queer
one ; as ' That Sol Haddock is a CASE.'
'What a hard CASE he is,' meaning a
reckless scapegrace, mauvais sujet.
1859. H. KINGSLEY, Geoffrey Ham-
lyn, ch. xlii. Tossed from workhouse to
prison, from prison to hulk — every' man's
hand against him — an Arab of society.
As hopeless a CASE, my lord judge, as
you ever had to deal with.
1868. O. W. HOLMES, Guardian
Angel, ch. iv., p. 35 (Rose Lib.). 'It
was a devilish hard CASE,' he said, ' that
old Malachi had left his money as he did.'
1872. Miss BRADDON, To the Bitter
End, ch. xlviii. They have only been
engaged three weeks ; but from the day
we first met Lord Stanmore at a hunting
breakfast at Stoneleigh, the business was
settled. It was a CASE, as you fast young
men say.
1880. HAWLEY SMART, Social Sin-
ners, ch. xxiv. He saw people began to
make way for him when she was con-
cerned ; in short, that they looked upon
it as a CASE.
1887. Casselfs Mag.,~Dzc., p. 26. It
isn't Mr. and Mrs. Cardewe he ^omes to
see ! It's Miss Amy. . . . They have
met before; and in my opinion it's a
CASE !
2. (thieves') — A bad five-
shilling piece ; HALF A CASE,
a bad half-crown. Cf., CASER.
In America a dollar, good or
bad. [There are two sources,
either of which may have con-
tributed this slang term. (i.)
Caser, the Hebrew word for a
crown; (2.) silver coin is frequently
counterfeited by coating or CASING
pewter or iron imitations with
silver. — Hotten. ]
1857. SNOWDEN, Mag. Assistant, 3
ed., p. 444. Bad five shillings — CASE.
3. (old). — A house, respectable
or otherwise. Subsequently re-
stricted to a brothel, and, by
derivation, a ' water-closet.' [Pre-
sumably from the Italian casa, a
house, through the Lingua Franca.
It is found in various forms,
CASA, CASE, CASEK, CARSER,
CARSEY, the last a phonetic
rendering of the usual pronunci-
ation of CASA.] For synonyms,
see KEN.
1678. MARVELL, wks. (1875) III..
497. A net ... That Charles himself
might chase To Caresbrook's narrow CASE.
[M.I
1690. B.E., Diet. Cant. Crew. CASE :
a House, Shop, or Ware-house.
1785. GROSE, Diet, of Vul. Tongue.
CASE : a house, perhaps from the Italian
casa. In the canting lingo it meant store
or warehouse, as well as dwelling house.
Tout that CASE : mark or observe that
house. It is all bob, now let's dub the
gigg of the CASE : now the coast is clear,
let us break open the door of the house.
1883. Echo, Jan. 25, p. 2, col. 3.
From the I talian we get the thieves' slang
term CASA for house.
4. (Westminster School). —
The discussion by Seniors and
Upper Election preceding a
TANNING (y.v.), and the tanning
itbelf.
Caseine.
46
CasJi-up.
A CASE OF CRABS, subs. phr.
(colloquial). — A failure.
A CASE OF PICKLES, stibs. phr.
(colloquial). — An incident ; a bad
break-down ; a break up.
A CASE OF STUMP, subs. phr.
(colloquial). — Said of. one abso-
lutely guiltless of the possession
of coin.
CASEINE, subs. (rare). — The correct
thing. A variant of THE CHEESE
(q.v.) Cf., CASSAN.
1856. C. KINGSLEY, Letter, May.
Horn minnow looks like a gudgeon, which
is the pure CASEINE.
CASER, subs, (thieves'). — Five shil-
lings.— See CASE and CAROON.
1879. J. W. HORSLEY, in Macm.
Mag., XL., 501. One morning I found I
did not have more than a CASER (55.).
CASE-VROW, subs. (old). — A prosti-
tute in residence in a particular
brothel ; now called a DRESS-
LODGER (q.v.}. [From CASE(^.Z/.),
a house, + Dutch vrow, a woman.]
CASEY, subs, (thieves'). — Cheese. —
See CASSAN.
CASH.— See CASSAN.
EQUAL TO CASH. — Of un-
questionable merit. In allusion
to the fact that paper currency is
largely a medium of exchange.
1835. HALIBURTON, Clockmaker, i S.,
chap. xvi. Though I say it, that shouldn't
say it, they [the U.S. Americans] fairly
take the shine off creation — they are actilly
EQUAL TO CASH.
To CASH A PRESCRIPTION,
subs. phr. (colloquial). — To get a
prescription made up.
1890. The Scots Observer, p. 399,
col. 2. The Socialist, with an ear for
Ibsen, and an eye for Wagner, and A
PRESCRIPTION in his pocket that only
needs TO BE CASHED for the world to
forget its past, and belie its present, and
bidevil its future.
CASH ELS, subs. (Stock Exchange).
• — Great Southern and Western
of Ireland Railway Stock. [Said
to be derived from the fact that
the line originally had no station
at Cashel.]
CASH or PASS IN ONE'S CHECKS.
verbal phr. (American). To die.
Derived from the game of poker,
where counters or CHECKS, pur-
chased at certain fixed rates, are
equivalent to coin. The euphe-
mism is drawn from the analogy
between settling one's earthly
accounts, and paying in dues at
the end of the game.
!?(?). JOHN HAY, Jim Bludsoe of the
Prairie Belle. ' How Jimmy Bludsoe
PASS'D IN HIS CHECKS The night of the
Prairie Belle.'
1870. BRET HARTE, Outcasts Poker
Flat. Beneath this tree lies the body of
J. O. who . . . HANDED IN HIS CHECKS
on the jth December, 1850.
1872. S. L. CLEMENS (' Mark Twain'),
Roughing It, p. 332. ' You see,1 said the
miner, ' one of the boys has PASSED IN
HIS CHECKS, and we want to give him a
good send off.'
1882. DODGE, Plains of the Great
West. As close a shave as I ever made to
PASSING IN MY CHECKS was from a buffalo
stampede.
1888. New York Sun. Well, I owned
the mule for several years after that, and
when he finally PASSED IN HIS CHECKS
I gave him as decent a burial as any
pioneer ever got.
CASH -Up, verb (colloquial). — To
liquidate a debt by the transfer
of money, i.e., cash, or its
equivalent. For synonyms, see
SHELL OUT.
1837. BARHAM, I. L.(M. of Venice).
And Antonio grew In a deuce of a stew,
For he could not CASH UP, spite of all he
could do.
1843. DICKENS, Martin Chuzzleivit,
I., p. 213. ' When my father's executors
Cask.
47
Caster.
CASH UP ' he used strange expressions now
and then, but that was his way. — ' CASH
UP'S a very good expression' observed
Martin, ' when other people don't apply it
to you."
1861 . S ALA, Seven Sons of Mammon,
II., p. 197. ' But they may CASH UP.'
'CASH UP! They'll never CASH UP a
farthing piece.'
CASK, subs. ( popular ) . — A
brougham ; otherwise a PILL-BOX
(q.v.}. A French equivalent is
une bagniole.
CASS. — See CASSAN.
CASSAN, subs, (thieves'). — Old
Cant for cheese. Also CASS,
CASSON, CASSAM, CASSOM, and
CASEY. The oldest form is
CASSAN, which is found in
Harman's Caveat or Warening
for Common Cursetors, the first
known dictionary of English cant
[1567]. CASS, chiefly American
thieves, is a latter corruption
probably influenced by the Dutch
kaas, or the M. Dutch kdse, Lat.
caseus. [For suggested deriva-
tion, which corresponds to that
given in the N.E.D., see second
quot. ]
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Caz ;
sweaty-toe ; choke-dog.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Le re-
nache (thieves' term) ; une cotelette
de rnenuister, deperruquier, or de
vAche (popular terms for a portion
of Brie ; literally a cabinet-
maker's, hair-dresser's, or cow-
cutlet) ; ledureme (thieves) ; une
boussole de refroidi or de singe
(popular = a Dutch Cheese. )
GERMAN SYNONYMS. Fen-
drich (Old Cant appearing in the
Liber Vagatorum [1529] as Wen-
derich or Wendrich ; subsequently
modified into Fiihndruh. The
derivation is referable, perhaps,
to an old practice, prevalent in
North Germany, of using as a
board sign \Fah-ne , a flag, stand-
ard, banner] with three cheeses
pictured) ; Gewine (from the
Hebrew gewino) ; Karnet or Kor-
ntt', Kawine (a variant of Gewine);
Stinkefix (from the O. H. G.
Stinchan, to smell, to stink ; this is
especially applied to old cheese).
ITALIAN SYNONYMS. Tenerosa
(cream cheese) ; maschtrpo ;
stifello (literally a kind of flute,
in allusion to the holes in
some^ kinds of cheese, notably
Gruyere).
SPANISH SYNONYM. Formage
(evidently a corruption of the
French fromage).
1567. HARMAN, Caveat (i86<)\ p. 86.
She hath a Cacking chete, a grunting
chete, ruff Pecke, CASSAN, and popplarr
of yarum.
1609. DEKKER, Lanthorne and Can-
dlelight, in wks. (Grosart) III., 195.
CASSAN is cheese, and is a worde bar-
barously coynd out of the substantive
OU*«f,whkh also signifies a cheese.
1656. BROOME, Jovial Crew, Act H.
Here's ruffpeck and CASSAN, and all of the
best, And scraps of the dainties of gentry
cofe's feast.
1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4 ed.),
p. ii. CASUM : cheese.
1881. New York Slang Dictionary.
CASS : cheese.
CASTELL, verb (old). — To see or
look. [It is uncertain as to
whether this word is slang or
not. It is not included in the
N.E.D.~\ For synonyms, see PIPE.
1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all,
p. 37 (H. Club's Repr., 1874). To CAS-
TELL : to see or looke.
CASTER, subt. (old). — i. A cloak.
[Cf., CASTOR, a hat ; there
seems to be no historical im-
probability for a similar deriva-
tion].
Castieu's Hotel.
48 Cast Sheep's Eyes.
Another Old Cant term for a
cloak was CALLE (q.v.), and the
French have un bleu, whilst the
Italian Fourbesque has toppo and
manto, the latter probably mean-
ing ' a long black veil ' ; Calao.
tralha. The Germania renders
cloak by noche (literally ' night,'
and signifying also in a canting
sense * sadness ' and ' sentence
of death ') ; nube (literally a
' cloud ') ; pelosa (specially ap-
plied to a cloak worn in the
morning ; literally ' shaggy ' or
' hairy ') ; btllosa or vellosa (a
sailor's cloak).
1567. HARMAN, Caveat [E. E. Text
Soc., 1869], p. 77. He walketh in softly a
nights, when they be at their rest, and
plucketh of as manygarmentesas be ought
worth that he may come by, . . . and
maketh porte sale at some conuenient place
of theirs, that some be soone ready in the
morning, for want of their CASTERS and
Togemans.
1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all,
p. 37 (H. Club's Repr., 1874). CASTER : a
Clocke.
1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the Vul-
gar Tongue [s.v.].
1811. Lexicon Balatronicuin [s.v.].
2. (colloquial). — A cast-off
or rejected person or thing. [From
CAST, thrown, + ER.]
1859. LANG, Wand, India, p. 144.
The horse which drew the buggy had
been a CASTER ... a horse considered no
longer fit for the cavalry or horse artillery,
and sold by public auction, after being
branded with the letter R on the near
shoulder. [M.]
CASTIEU'S HOTEL, subs. phr.
(Australian thieves'). — The Mel-
bourne gaol, so called from Mr.
J. B. Castieu. For list of nick-
names of this description, see
CAGE.
18(?). Australian Printers Keep-
sake. He caught a month, and had to
white it out at diamond-cracking in
CASTIEU'S HOTEL.
CASTLE- RAG, subs, (rhyming slang).
— A flag or fourpenny piece. For
synonyms, see JOEY.
CAST-OFFS, subs, (nautical). — i.
Landsmen's clothes. For syn-
onyms, see TOGS.
2. In singular (general). — A
discarded mistress.
CASTOR, subs, (old).— A hat. [From
Latin castor •, a beaver, hats
having formerly been made of
beaver's fur.] For synonyms, see
GOLGOTHA.
1640. ENTICK, London, II., 175.
Beaver hats, Demi-CASTERS. [M.]
1754. B. MARTIN, Eng. Diet., 2 ed.
CASTOR : lat., i, a beaver, a beast like an
otter. 2, a fine hat made of its fur.
1821. W. T. MONCRIEFF, Tom and
Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 5. Jerry. (Walks about,
and, by mistake, takes Logic's hat, which
he puts on.) Damn the cards ! Log. (Fol-
lowing Jerry, and rescuing CASTOR.) Don't
nibble the felt, Jerry !
1857. O. W. HOLMES, Autocrat of
the Breakfast Table, ch. viii. The last
effort of decayed fortune is expended in
smoothing its dilapidated CASTOR. The
hat is the ultimutn morieus of ' respecta-
bility.'
1860. Morning Post, Jan. 30. Such
as tin for money, CASTOR for hat, brick
for good fellow, gemman for gentleman.
CAST SHEEP'S EYES, verbal phr.
(common). — To ogle; to leer or
' make eyes ' at ; formerly to look
modestly and with diffidence, but
always with longing or affection.
[Probably in allusion to the quiet,
gentle gaze of sheep.] The
phrase has been varied by to
CAST LAMB'S EYES. Fr. ginginer;
lancer son prospecttis, and un oeil
en tirelire = an eye full of amorous
expression.
1590. GREENE, Francesco's Fortunes,
in wks. VIII., 191. That CASTING A
SHEEFE'S EYE at hir, away he goes ; and
euer since he lies by himselfe and pines
away.
Cast-up Accounts. 49
Cat.
1614. JONSON, Bartholomew Fair,
V., iii. Who chances to come by but fair
Nero in a sculler ; And seeing Leander's
naked leg and goodly calf, CAST at him
from the boat A SHEEP'S EYE an' a half.
1748. SMOLLETT, Rod. Random, ch.
xvi. There was a young lady in the room,
and she THREW . . . many SHEEP'S EYES
at a certain person whom 1 shall not name.
1864. G. A. LAWRENCE, Guy Living*
stone, ch. vii. He would stand for some
time CASTING LAMB'S-EYES at the object of
his affections — to the amorous audacity of
the full-grown sheep he never soared.
1881. HAWLEY SMART, Gt. Tontine,
ch. xi. It isn't to be expected a well-bred
lass like this is going to knock under the
minute a young fellow MAKES SHEEP'S-
EYES at her.
CAST UP ACCOUNT s. — See
ACCOUNTS, to which may be
added the following.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Jeter du
. caur — or son lest— sur carreau
(general : literally to ' throw hearts
or diamonds ' or ' throw one's
heart,' here meaning the stomach,
' on the floor') ; compter ses che-
mises (popular) ; debecqueter (pop-
ular) ; dt border (popular) ; lac her
son Donjon (general) ; Idcher une
fusee (popular).
1607. DEKKER, Westward Ho, Actv.,
Sc. i. Mist. Wafer. I would not have 'em
CAST UP their ACCOUNTS here, for more
than they mean to be drunk this twelve-
month.
1808. R. ANDERSON, Cumbria. Ball,
26. The breyde she KEST UP her ACCOUNTS
In Rachel's lap. [M.]
CAT, subs. (old). — i. A prostitute.
For synonyms, see BARKACK-
HACK.
[1401. Pol. Poems, II., 113. Beware
of Cristis curse, and of CATTIS tailis.]
[M.]
153.5. LYNDESAY, Satyre, 468. Wan-
tonnes. Hay ! as one biydlit CAT, I brank.
[M.]
1690. B. E., Diet. Cant. Crew. CAT :
a common Whore.
1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5 ed.;.
CAT (s.) . . . also a cant word for a lewd,
whorish woman, or street-walker.
2. (popular). — A shortened
form of CAT-O'-NINE-TAILS (q.V.).
1788. FALCONBRIDGE, Afr.SlaveTr.,
40. A CAT (an instrument of correction,
which consists of a handle or stem, made
of a rope three inches and a half in cir-
cumference, and about eighteen inches in
length, at one end of which are fastened
nine branches, or tails, composed of log
line, with three or more knots upon each
branch). [M.]
1870. London Figaro, 23 Dec. We
are delighted to learn that Mr. Baron
Bramwell, at the Warwick Assizes, on
Saturday, sentenced a batch of street
thieves to hard labour for eighteen months,
and twenty lashes each, with an instru-
ment called the CAT.
1889. Globe, 26 Oct., p. 7, col. 3. Th*
'CAT.' A companion of the prisoner was
convicted last session of being concerned
in the assault and robbery, and was
sentenced to eighteen months' hard labour
and to receive twenty-five lashes.
3. '(thieves'). — A lady's muff.
[Muff = female pudendum. See
sense 4.]
1857. SNOWDEN,
p. 444. To steal a muff— To free a CAT.
4. (popular). — The female
pudendum ; otherwise a PUSSY ;
French, le chat.
5. (thieves'). — A quart pot.
Pint pots are called KITTENS.
Stealing these pois is termed CAT
AND KITTEN SNEAKING.
1851. MAYHEW, London Labour and
London Poor, II., p. 118. The mistress
of a lodging-house, who had conveniences
for the melting of pewter-pots (called
CATS AND KITTENS by the young thieves
according to the size of the vessels). Ibid,
I., p. 460. At this lodging-house CATS
AND KITTENS are melted down ... A
quart pot is a CAT, and pints and half-
pints are KITTENS.
6. (popular). — See TAME CAT.
7. (common). — A monster in-
festing lodging houses, and assimi-
4
Cat.
Cat.
lating, with equal readiness, cold
meat and coals, spirits and paraf-
fin, etc., etc.
1827. R. B. PEAKE, Comfortable
Lodgings, Act I., Sc. iii. I wonder whether
the CAT ever comes in here, and knocks
anything over? Sir Hippington Miff,
here's your health ! — Ladies, yours !
(Drinks.) Bless my soul ! the cup's empty !
I'll turn it over, and lay the fault at pussy's
door.
1871. Figaro, 2 July. 'My Landlady.'
Who on my viands waxes fat ? — Who keeps
a most voracious CAT ! — Who often listens
on my mat ? My Landlady.
FLYING CAT, subs. (old). — An
owl.
1690. B. E., Dictionary Canting'
Crew, s.v. Flutter. An owl is a FLYING-
CAT.
TO JERK, SHOOT, or WHIP THE
CAT ; or simply, TO CAT. To
vomit; generally from over in-
dulgence in drink. —See ACCOUNTS
and CAST UP ACCOUNTS.
1609. ARMIN, Maids of More-cl.
(1880), 70. He baste their bellies and their
lippes till we haue IERK'T THE CAT with
our three whippes. [M.]
1630. J. TAYLOR ('Water P.'), Brood
Cortnor, wks. III., p. 5, col. i. You may
not say hee's drunke . . For though he
be as drunke as any rat He hath but
catcht a fox, or WHIPT THE CAT.
1830. MARRYAT, Kings Own, ch.
xxxii. I'm cursedly inclined to SHOOT
THE CAT.
To WHIP THE CAT, otherwise
TO DRAW THROUGH THE WATER
WITH A CAT, phr. (old). — I. To
indulge in practical jokes. [For
suggested origin, see quotation
1785-]
1614. B. JONSON, Barthol. Fair, I.,
iv. [N.]. I'll be DRAWN WITH A GOOD GIB
CAT THROUGH THE GREAT POND at home.
[M.]
1690. B. E. , Dictionary CantingCre-w.
CATTING : DRAWING a Fellow THROUGH
A POND WITH A CAT.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue.
CAT-WHIPPING or WHIPPING THE CAT : a
trick often practised on ignorant country
fellows, vain of their strength ; by laying
a wager with them, that they may be
PULLED THROUGH A POND BY A CAT ; the
bet being made, a rope is fixed round the
waist of the party to be catted, and the
end thrown across the pond, to which the
cat is also fastened by a pack-thread, and
three or four sturdy fellows are appointed
to lead and whip the cat ; these, on a
signal given, seize the end of the cord,
and pretending to whip the cat, haul the
astonished booby through the water.
2. (tailors', etc.). — To work at
private houses. In America the
term is also used by carpenters
and other itinerants, especially
schoolmasters who 'board round.'
At one time it was more con-
venient to pay in kind than in
currency; and, in rural New
England , a school-teacher would
be ' boarded round ' amongst his
pupils' parents as a part of his re-
muneration. (See Washington
Irving's Legend of Sleepy Hollow. )
This was called WHIPPING THE
CAT.
1871. DE VERB, Americanisms, 648.
WHIPPING THE CAT : an old English
phrase, used only by tailors and carpenters,
has maintained its existence in New Eng-
land, Pennsylvania, and a few other States,
where it denotes the annual visit of a tailor
to repair the clothes of a household. It is
said to have originated in a very rough
practical joke, which bears the same name
in Hampshire, England, and of which, it
is surmised, the tailor may have been the
victim (J. R. Lowell). The simple tailors
of former days liked thus to go from house
to house in the rural districts, providing
the families with clothing. The chief
romance for the happy ' Schneider ' was in
the abundant and wholesome cheer of the
farmer who employed him, and as his
annual visits fell in the pudding and
sausage season, he was usually crammed
with that kind of ' vegetables,' as he face-
tiously called them, to his heart's content.
The only objection made to CATWHIPPING,
was that it afforded no opportunity to
' cabbage,' and in former days this was a
serious grievance. The introduction of
large manufacturing establishments, low-
priced ready - made clothing, and the
advent of the sewing-machine, have now
nearly made an end to this itinerant
occupation. The terms CATWHIPPER and
CATWHJPPING were often facetiously, and
Cat.
Cat.
sometimes very irreverently, applied to
other itinerant professions : even ' school-
masters ' — there were no 'teachers,' much
less 'educators,' in those benighted days —
were called CATWHJPPERS, when they
boarded, as was quite usual, in turns with
the parents of their scholars. Itinerating
preachers also were, by the initiated,
included in this category.
TO SEE HOW THE CAT WILL
JUMP, phr. (common). — To watch
the course of events. An Ameri-
can equivalent is TO SIT ON THE
FENCE. — See FENCE and JUMP-
ING CAT.
1827. SCOTT, in Croker Pap. (1884),
I., xi., 319. Had I time, I believe I would
come to London merely TO SEE HOW THB
CAT JUMPED. [M.]
1853. BULWER LYTTON, My Novel,
IV., p. 228. ' But I rely equally on your
friendly promise." ' Promise ! No — I
don't promise. I must first SEE HOW THE
CAT JUMPS."
1859. LEVER, Davenport Dunn, III.,
229. You'll SEE with half an eye HOW
THE CAT JUMPS.
1874. Sat.Rev.^. 139. This dismays
the humble Liberal of the faint Southern
type, who thinks that there are subjects as
to which the heads of his party need not
Wait TO SEE HOW THE CAT JUMPS.
1887. ' Pol. Slang," in Comhill Mag.,
June, p. 626. Those who sit on the fence
— men with impartial minds, who wait to
see, as another pretty phrase has it, HOW
THE CAT WILL JUMP.
YOU KILL MY CAT AND I'LL
KILL YOUR DOG, phr. (common).
'Ca ' me, 'ca ' thee ; an exchange
in the matter of ' scratching
backs ' — in Fr. passez mot la casse^
et je fenverrai la senne.
TO LET THE CAT OUT OF THE
BAG, phr. (common). — To reveal
a secret ; a variant with a slightly
modified sense is TO PUT ONE'S
FOOT IN IT. [This and the kind-
red phrase ' to buy a pig in a
poke,' are said to have had their
origin in the bumpkin's trick of
substituting a cat for a young pig
and bringing it to market in a
bag. If the customer were wary
THE CAT WAS LET OUT OF THE
BAG, and there was no deal.
1760. Land. Mag XXIX., p. 224. We
could have wished that the author . . .
had not LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG.
[M.]
1782. WOLCOT (' P. Pindar '), Pair
of Lyric Epistles To the Reader But. to
use a sublime phrase, as it would be LET-
TING THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG, I have
fortune.
1811. C. K. SHARPE, in Correspon-
dence (1888), I., 475. She has LET a
wicked CAT OUT OF THE BAG to G. M.
respecting his mother.
1855. MRS. GASKELL, North and
South, ch. xliv. You needn't look so
frightened because you have LET THE
CAT OUT OF THE BAG tO a faithful old
hermit like me. I shall never name his
having been in England.
1888. MACDERMOTT [on the case of
Crawford v. Dilke], This noble represen-
tative of everything good in Chelsea, He
LET THE CAT, the naughty cat, RIGHT OUT
OF THE Gladstone BAG.
WHO ATE Or STOLE THE CAT ?
phr. (common). — A gentleman
whose larder was frequently broken
by bargees, had a cat cooked and
placed as a decoy. It was taken
and eaten, and became a standing
jest against the pilferers.
TO LEAD A CAT AND DOG LIFE
phr. (popular). — To quarrel night
and day. Said of married (or un-
married) couples.
TO TURN CAT IN THE PAN, phr.
(old). — To ' rat ' ; to reverse one's
position through self-interest ; to
play the turncoat. [The deriva-
tion is absolutely unknown. The
one generally received — that ' cat '
is a corruption of ' cate ' or
' cake' — is historically untenable.]
c. 1559. Old Play, ' Mart iage of Witt
and Wisdome* Sc. 3. Now am I true
araid like a phesitien ; I am as very a
turncote as the wethercoke of Poles; For
now I will calle my name Due Disporte.
So, so, finely I can TURNE THE CATT m
THE PANE.
Catamaran.
Cat aw an) pus.
1593. 4 Lett. Conf., in wks. (Grosart)
II., 286. If it bee a home booke at his
first conception, let it be a home booke
still, and TURNE NOT CAT IN THE PANNE.
1625. BACON, Essays {of Cunning),
p. 441 (Arber). There is a Cunning,
which we in England call, The TURNING
OF THE CAT IN THE PAN, which is, when
that which a Man says to another, he laies
it, as if Another had said it to him.
c. 1720. Song, 'The Vicar of Bray.'
' When George in pudding time came in,
And moderate men looked big, sir, He
TURNED A CAT-IN-PAN once more, And so
became a Whig, sir.'
1816. SCOTT, Old Mortality, ch.
xxxv. ' O, this precious Basil will TURN
CAT IN PAN with any man ! ' replied
Claverhouse.
TO FEF.L AS THOUGH A CAT
HAD KITTENED IN ONE'S MOUTH,
phr. (popular). — To ' have a
mouth' after drunkenness.
Many other phrases and pro-
verbial sayings might, more or
less justifiably, be classed as slang
in this connection ; e.g., TO FIGHT
LIKE KILKENNY CATS ; TO GRIN
LIKE A CHESHIRE CAT ; NOT
ROOM ENOUGH TO SWING A CAT ;
ABLE TO MAKE A CAT SPEAK, AND
A MAN DUMB J WHO SHOT THE
CAT (the last a reproach addressed
to volunteers), etc.
CATAMARAN, subs, (colloquial). — A
vixenish old woman ; also a cross-
grained person of either sex. \_Cf.,
CATAMOUNT. Probably associ-
ated with the colloquial use of
CAT, a quarrelsome, vicious
woman]. For synonyms, see
GEEZER.
1833. MARRY AT, Peter Simple, ch. vi.
The cursed drunken old CATAMARAN,
cried he, I'll go and cut her down by the
head.
1855. THACKERAY. Nevucomes, ch.
Ixxv. ' What a woman that Mrs. Mac-
kenzie is ! ' cries F. B. ' What an infernal
tartar and CATAMARAN !'
1861. Macmillan's Magazine, June,
p. 113. She was such an obstinate old
CATAMARAN.
CATAMOUNT, C ATA MOUNTAIN, or
CAT O' MOUNTAIN, subs. (Ameri-
can).— A shrew. [Q^CATAMARAN
and Beaumont and Fletcher's use
of the word for a wild man from
the mountains, itself a transferred
sense of catamount = a leopard or
panther.]
1616. FLETCHER, Cust. of Country,
I., i. The rude claws of such a CAT o'
MOUNTAIN !
1835. HALIBURTON, Clockmaker, i
S., ch., xii. She was a dreadful cross-
grained woman, a real CATAMOUNT, as
savage as a she -bear that has cubs.
CAT AND MOUSE, subs., phr.
(rhyming slang). — A house.
CATASTROPHE, j«fo. (old). — The tail
or latter end. Cf., the Falstaffism
' I'll tickle your CATASTROPHE.'
CATAWAMPOUS, CATAWAMPTIOUS-
LY, adj. and adv. (popular). — With
avidity ; fiercely ; eagerly ; or
violently destructive. See CATA-
WAMPUS.
1843. DICKENS, Martin Chuzzlewit,
ch., xxi., 216. There air some CATA-
WAMPOUS chawers in the small way too, as
graze upon a human pretty strong.
1853. LYTTON, My Novel, bk. X.,
ch. xx. If a man like me .... is to be
CATAWAMPOUSLY champed up by a
mercenary selfish cormorant of a capitalist.
18(?). F. BURNAND, The White Cat.
Don't hurt me ; spare a poor unhappy pup,
Or I'll be CATAWAMPOUSLY chawed up.
CATAWAMPUS, subs. — Vermin, es-
pecially those that sting and
bite. [Apparently formed from
CATAWAMPOUS (g.v.).~\
1880. MORTIMER COLLINS, Thoughts
in My Garden, vol. I., p. 244. Look at
their [spiders'] value in destroying wasps
Catch.
53
Catch- em -A live.
and blue-bottles, gnats, midges, and all
manner of CATAWAMPUSES, as the ladies
call them.
CATCH, subs, (colloquial). — A man
or woman matrimonially desirable;
formerly in a canting sense, a
prize or booty [j^quot. 1877]. A
woman who is ' no great CATCH '
is in French argot termed line
grognotte.
1593. SHAKSPEARE, Taming of
the Shrew, Act ii., Sc. i, 333. Bap. The
gain I seek is — quiet in the match. Gre.
No doubt but he hath got a quiet CATCH.
1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5 ed.)
CATCH (s.) . . . also a cant word for a
prize, booty, etc.
1842. Comic Almanack, p. 333.
Angelina Ampletin was one of the prettiest
girls in Pimlico, and if there was any
truth in rumour, very far from one of the
worst CATCHES.
1877. Five Years Penal Servitude,
ch. iii., p. 244. Well, as it was her CATCH,
I thought as I'd consult along of her
whether we should take the ,£200.
CATCH or CUT A CRAB, verbal phr.
(common). — There are various
ways of CATCH IJ^G A CRAB, as for
example, (i) to turn the blade of
the oar or 'feather' under water
at the end of the stroke, and
thus be unable to reco\ er ; (2) to
lose control of the oar at the
middle of the stroke by * digging '
too deeply ; or (3) to miss
the water altogether. An English
variant is to ' capture a cancer,'
an American form being ' TO
CATCH A LOBSTER.' — See
LOBSTER.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vvlg. Tongue,
s.v.
1833. MARRYAT, Peter Simple [ed.
1846], ch viii., p. 206, s.v.
1844. Puck, p. 134. Now, Johnson,
thou wilt surely rue ! Didst ever pull
before? (Brown had been up to fish at
Kew. And CAUGHT — of CRABS — a store.
1849. JOHN SMITH (J. D. Lewis)
Hark, the gun has gone thrice, and
now off in a trice, With the Johnians we're
soon on a level. When Hicks, who's no
dab, with his oar CUTS A CRAB? And our
coxswain he swears like the Devil.
1857. HOOD, Pen and Pencil
Pictures, p. 144. Awful muff ! Can't pull
two strokes without CATCHING as many
CRABS ; he'd upset the veriest tub on the
river.
1872. Daily News, 10 Sept. ' London
Rowing Club Regatta.' The excitement
and fun engendered by the numerous
scrimmages resulted in ' fouls ' and
CRABS of most portentous magnitude.
CATCH A TARTAR, verbal phr. ( popu-
lar).— To unexpectedly meet with
one's superior ; to fall into one's
own trap ; having a design upon
another, to be caught oneself.
[Explanation may be found, per-
haps, in the horror born of the
atrocities of the Tartar hordes
who devasted Eastern Europe in
the reign of St. Louis of France.
Cf., TARTAR, a person of irritable
temper.] An American variant
is TO CATCH ON A SNAG (q.V.).
1682. DRYDEN, Prol. to King and
Queen, in wks., p. 456 (Globe). When
men will needlessly their freedom barter
for lawless power, sometimes they CATCH
A TARTER.
1748. SMOLLETT, Rod. Random, ch.
xxx. Who, looking at me with a con-
temptuous sneer, exclaimed, Ah, ah ! have
yOU CAUGHT A TARTER?
1778. FANNY BURNEY, Diary, 23
Aug. 'Ah,' he (Johnson) added, 'they
will little think what a TARTAR you
carry to them.'
1857. O. W. HOLMES, Autocrat of
the Breakfast Table, ch. v. When the
Danish pirates made descents upon the
English coast, they CAUGHT A FEW
TARTARS occasionally, in the shape of
Saxons.
c. 1880. Broadside Ballad, ' Unhappy
Because it Can't Last.' They say two heads
are better than one, so I took a wife and
CAUGHT A TARTAR, and found two of a
trade could never agree, and proved the
Eroverb that marry in haste repent at
;isure.
CATCH -'EM -ALIVE, or ALIVO, subs,
phr. (common). — i. A fly-paper.
Catch-Fart.
54 Catch on a Snag.
[In allusion to the sticky sub-
stance smeared over the paper
which, attracting the flies, liter-
ally ' catches them alive. ']
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. III., p. 38. They
used to ... call 'em Egyptian flypapers,
but now they use merely the word ' fly-
papers,' or ' fly-destroyers,' or ' fly-
catchers,' or 'CATCH 'EM ALIVE, OH'S.'
1857. DICKENS, Dorrit, wks. I., ch.
xvi., 122 And such coats of varnish that
every holy personage served for a fly trap,
and became what is now called in the
vulgar tongue a CATCH-EM-ALIVE, O.
1890. Globe, 16 April, p. i, col 3.
Typhoid microbes take as kindly to
sluggish waters as flies do to CATCH-EM-
ALIVE-OH'S.
2. (common). — A tooth-comb ;
a 'louse-trap.'
3. (general). — The female pu-
dendum.
CATCH -FART, subs. (old). — A foot-
man, or page boy. [A com-
bination of CATCH, in its ordinary
sense, + FART (q.v ). Fourbesque,
bologjtino 2ci\&falcone (' a falcon').]
CATCH IT, verb (colloquial). — To
get a scolding or castigation ; to
get into trouble ; to ' come in for
it.' For synonyms, see TAN and
WIG.
1835. MARRYAT, Jacob Faithful, ch.
xxxviii. We all thought Tom was about
tO CATCH IT.
1848. MRS. GASKELL, M. Barton,
xxxi. I shall CATCH IT down stairs, I
know.
1872. BLACK, Adv. Phaeton, xvi.,
218. He CATCHES IT if he does not bring
home a fair proportion to his wife.
CATCH ME I or CATCH ME AT IT!
phr. (colloquial). — An intimation
that the person speaking will
not do such and such a thing.
An analogous phrase is DON'T
YOU WISH YOU MAY GET IT !
1780. MRS. COWLEY, The Belles
Stratagem, Act Hi., Sc. 2. First Gent.
May I be a bottle, and an empty bottle,
if you CATCH ME at that ! Why, I am
going to the masquerade.
1830. GALT, La-wrie, T., V., iv.
(1849), 207- CATCH ME again at such
costly damn.
1841. R. B. PEAKE, Court and City,
I., i. Satisfaction ! CATCH ME at that !
1846. DICKENS, Dombey and Son, I.,
p. 112, col. 3. 'You have a committee
to-day at three, you know.' 'And one at
three, three-quarters,' added Mr. Dombey,
' CATCH YOU at forgetting anything ! '
exclaimed Carker.
CATCH ON, verb (colloquial). —
To understand ; to grasp in
meaning ; to apprehend ; to at-
tach or fix oneself to ; to quickly
seize an opportunity and turn it
to advantage. [A literal trans-
lation, in fact, into the language
of slang of the Latin appre-
hendere^} A French equivalent
is piger, but for synonyms, see
TWIG.
1884. Lisbon (Dakota) Star, 27 June.
Now is the time to CATCH ON in order to
keep up with the procession. [M.]
1889. The^ Nation, 19 Dec., p. 499,
col. i. ... The farmer knows only the
traffic of his market town and his county,
and he is slow to CATCH ON to the new
and progressive.
1890. Globe, Feb. 13, p. i. col. 5.
Well, assuming that the notion were to
CATCH ON, and the example of this enter-
prising mother to be generally imitated in
the upper orbits of the social system, would
there be a balance of advantage to the
nation ?
CATCH ON A SNAG, verbal phr.
(American).— TO CATCH A TAR-
TAR (q.v.); to meet with one's
superior.
1887. STUART CUMBERLAND, The
Queen's Highway. In rough Western
parlance a man who falls in with such a
player (a man, who, bearing a high reputa-
tion for all-round godliness, is a crack
' poker ' player) CATCHES ON A SNAG, and
it is said that everyone who visits the
Catch on the Hop.
55
Catfish Death.
North-West comes across, sooner or later,
the SNAG on which he is TO CATCH.
CATCH ON THE HOP, verbal '• phr.
(popular). — Properly to CATCH
or HAVE ON THE HIP, as Gra-
tiano catches Shylock. — See HOP.
c. 1869. The Chickaleary Bloke, sung
by Vance. For to GET ME ON THE HOP,
or on my ' tibby ' drop, You must wake up
very early in the morning.
CATCH-POLE, subs. (old). — A war-
rant-officer ; a bum - bailiff. A
very old term formerly in res-
pectable use, but employed
contemptuously from the six-
teenth century. [From CATCH,
to arrest, or stop, + POLE or
POLL, the head.] Fourbesque,
foco orfuoco = fire. Cf., BUM-
BAILIFF.
1377. LANGL., P. PL, bk. XVIII.,
46. Crucifige, quod a CACCHEPOLLE I
warante hym a wicche. [M.]
c. 1510. BARCLAY, Mrr. Good Mann.
(1570), G., iv. Be no towler, CATCHPOLL,
nor customer.
1601. B. JOHNSON, Poetaster, III.
CATCHPOLE, loose the gentlemen, or by my
velvet arms, etc.
1751. SMOLLETT, Peregrine Pickle,
ch. xcvii. The CATCHPOLE, after a diligent
search, had an opportunity of executing
the writ upon the defendant.
1859. SALA, Gaslight and Daylight,
ch. xiii. You are brought there by a
CATCHPOLE, and kept there under lock and
key until your creditors are paid.
CATCH THE WIND OF THE WORD,
verbal phr. (Irish). — To quickly
understand the meaning of what is
said. For synonyms, see TWIG.
CATCHY, adj. (colloquial). — Vulgar-
ly or cheaply attractive ; of a
quality to take the eye or ear ;
easily caught and remembered
(as a tune). Wrongly used in
quot. 1885.
1831. Frasers Mag., III., 679. A
CATCHY, stage-like effect. [M.]
1885. S. O. ADDY, in N. andQ., 6 S.,
xii., 143. This seemed to be like one of
those CATCHY questions which examiners
in law and history are said to ' stump ' the
candidates.
CATERPILLAR, subs, (old).— A sol-
dier. For synonyms, see MUD-
CRUSHER.
CATERWAUL, verb (colloquial). —
Properly to make a noise like
cats at rutting time ; to woo, to
'make love.' The quotations
show the process of transition
from the old figurative usage of
the word, to be ' in heat,' ' to be
lecherous,' to the current sense.
For synonyms, see FIRKYTOODLE.
1599. NASHE, Lenten Stuffe, in wks.
V., 284. The friars and monks CATER-
WAWLD from the abbots and priors to the
novices.
1700. CONGREVE, Way of the World,
Act i., Sc. 9. An old aunt, who loves
CATTERWAULING better than a conventicle.
1771. SMOLLETT, Humphry Clinker,
1. 64. I hope you have worked a reforma-
tion among them [servant-maids], as I
exhorted you in my last, and set their
hearts upon better things than they can
find in junketting and CATERWAULING
with the fellows of the country.
1884. HAWLEY SMART, Post to
Finish, ch. xvii. From what I hear, you
came to Riddleton fooling after my daugh-
ter. Now, I'll have no CATERWAULING
of that sort.
CATEVER, subs. (common). — A
queer, or singular affair ; any-
thing poor or bad. [From the
Lingua Franca, and Italian cat-
tivo, bad.] Variously spelled by
the lower orders. — Hotten.
CATFISH DEATH, subs. (American).
—Suicide by drowning.
c. 1889. Chicago Press [quoted by
Barrere]. . . . driving his sweetheart to
lunacy and a CATFISH DEATH, by his
dime-museum freaks.
Catgut- Scraper.
Cat Market.
CATGUT-SCRAPER, subs, (common).
— A fiddler. [From CATGUT, the
material of which fiddle strings
are made, + SCRAPER, one that
rubs or scrapes. Sometimes
simply SCRAPER or CATGUT ; the
latter of which is also used to
signify the music produced. Also
ROSIN-THE-BOW and TEASER OF
THE CATGUT.
1633. MASSINGER, Guardian IV., ii.
Wire-string and CATGUT, men and strong-
breathed heautbois. [M.]
1785. BURNS, Jolly Beggars. Her
charms had struck a sturdy caird, As
weel's a poor GUT-SCRAPER.
1796. WOLCOT (' P. Pindar '), Tristia,
wks. (1812) V., 267. Behold! the CAT-
GUT-SCRAPER with his croud Commands
at will the house of hospitality.
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 21. Or they
will call to the orchestra, saying, ' Now
then you CATGUT-SCRAPERS ! Let's have
a ha'purth of liveliness."
CAT HARPING FASHION, adv. phr.
(nautical). — See quot.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue.
Drinking cross ways, and not as usual
over the left thumb.
CAT HEADS, subs. (old). — The
paps. For synonyms, see
DAIRY.
CATHEDRAL, subs. (Winchester Col-
lege). —A high hat. [So called
because only worn when going
to the Cathedral.] For syno-
nyms, see GOLGOTHA.
Adj. (old) — Old-fashioned ;
antique.
1690. B. E., Dictionary Canting
Crew. CATHEDRAL : old-fashioned, out
of Date, Ancient.
1755. JOHNSON. CATHEDRAL: in low
phrase, antique, venerable, old.
1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the Vul-
gar Tongue. CATHEDRAL : old-fashioned,
an old CATHEDRAL !jed*lcai1. chair, UL.
CATHARINE PURITANS, subs. phr.
(University). — Members of St.
Catharine's Hall, at Cambridge.
[PURITAN from the pun on the
words CATHARINE and KaOaipeiv
= to purify.] They were also
called DOVES (q.v.).
CATHERINE HAYES, subs. (Austra-
lian).— See quot. [The deriva-
tion may presumedly be traced
to the immense popularity of the
Irish singer at the antipodes.]
1859. FRANK FOWLER, Southern
Light and Shadows, p. 53. [A liquor con-
sisting of] claret, sugar, and nutmeg.
CAT'S, subs. (University). — A short
name for St. Catharine's Hall.
CAT'S MEN, subs. (University). —
Members of St. Catharine's Hall
CATHERINE WHEEL. — Sfe CART-
WHEEL.
CAT-LAP, subs, (common). — Thin
potations of any sort, especially
tea. Such a beverage being so feeble
as to be only fit for women. For
synonyms, see SCANDAL BROTH.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue.
CAT-LAP : tea, called also scandal broth.
1824. SCOTT, Redgatmtlet, ch. xiii.
We have tea and coffee aboard . . . You
are at the age to like such CATLAP.
1864. M.E.BRADDON, Aurora Floyd ,^
ch. xvii. ' I've mashed the tea for 'ee,'
said the 'softy'; 'I thought you'd like
a coop.' The trainer shrugged his
shoulders. ' I can't say I'm particular
attached to the CAT-LAP,' he said, laughing.
CAT- MARKET, subs, (common). — A
number of people all talkirg at
once. ' You make a row like a
CAT-MARKET' — a general 'cater-
wauling.'
Cat- Match.
57
Cats and Dogs.
CAT-MATCH, subs. (old). — See quot.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vuig. Tongue.
CAT MATCH : when a rook or cully is
engaged amongst bad bowlers.
CATOLLER or CATOLLA, subs. (old).
— A noisy, prating fellow. — See
quot.
1832. PIERCE EGAN, Book of Sports,
p. 70. [CATOLLA is given as a foolish,
betting man.]
CAT-O'-NINE-TAILS or CAT, subs.
(common). — A nine - lashed
scourge now used for the punish-
ment of criminals, but until 1 88 1
the authorised means of punish-
ment in the British army and
navy. [From CAT, a beast with
claws, + o' + NINE TAII s, the
nine knotted lashes. History is
against the view of some military
authorities that the CAT-O'-NIXE-
TAILS was a Batavian importation
of William III., and that the
word ' cat ' is derived from the
Sclavonic kal, an executioner, or
from katowae, to lash or torture.
Another theory is that it was in-
troduced at the time of the Ar-
mada (1588), when vast numbers
of these ' straunge whips ' were
found in the captured ships of the
Spaniards. A ballad of the period
declares of the Spaniards that —
They made such whippes wherewith
nc man Would seeme to strike a dogge ;
So strengthened eke with brasen tagges
. And filde so roughe and thinne, That they
would force at every lash The bloud abroad
to spinne.
-This view is not inconsistent
with the quotations, the first of
which antedates the earliest
given in the N.E.D. by thirty
years.] In pri>on parlance the
CAT-O'-NINE-TAILS is known as
NUMBER ONE or the NINE-TAILED
BRUISER (q.v.}, the birch as
NUMBER TWO .^.)-
1665. R. HEAD, English Rogue, pt.
I., ch. iii., p. 28 (1874). A CAT OF NINE-
TAILS (as he called it) being so many
small cords.
1702. VANBRUGH, False Friend,
prologue. You dread reformers of an
impious age, You awful CAT-A-NINE TAILS
to the stage.
1748. SMOLLETT, Rod. Random, ch.
v. ' I'll bring him to the gangway, and
anoint him with a CAT-AND-NINE-TAILS.'
1837. CARLYLE, Fr. Rev., pt. III.,bk.
VII., ch. iii. Rash coalised kings, such
a fire have ye kindled ; yourselves fireless,
your fighters animated only by drill-ser-
geants, mess-room moralities, and the
drummer's CAT.
CAT - PARTY ; also BITCH - PARTY,
subs, (common). — A party con-
sisting entirely of women. [From
CAT, a woman, + PARTY.] Cf.,
STAG-PARTY, and see HEN-
PARTY for synonyms.
CATS, subs, (commercial). — Atlan-
tic Seconds were formerly so-
called for telegraphic purposes.
CATS AND DOGS. To RAIN CATS
AND DOGS, sometimes extended
to AND PITCHFORKS AMJ
SHOVELS, phr. (popular). — To
rain heavily. [The French cata-
doupe, a waterfall, has been sug-
gested as the origin. Another
etymon has been found in the
Greek Kara. S6%av in reference to
the downpour being out of the
common. Possibly Swift, who
seems to have been the first to
have used the expression, may
have evolved it out of his own
description of a city shower (1710).
Now from all parts the swelling kennels
flow, And bear their trophies with them as
they go. . . . Drown'd puppies, stinking
sprats, all drench'd in mud, Dead cats,
and turnip-tops, come tumbling down the
flood.]
1738. SWIFT, Pol. Convers., dial. 2.
I knbw Sir John will go, though he was
sure it would rain CATS AND DOGS.
Cats-Foot.
Cats-Paw.
1819 (Feb. 25). SHELLEY to PEACOCK,
in Letters, etc. (Camelot), p. 264. After
two months of cloudless serenity, it began
raining CATS AND DOGS.
1837. B ARM AM, /. L. (Blasphemers
Warning). But it rains CATS AND DOGS
and you're fairly wet through Ere you
know where to turn, what to say, or to do.
CAT'S FOOT. To LIVE UNDER THE
CAT'S FOOT, phr. (old). — To be
under petticoat government ;
hen - pecked. Cf., APRON •
STRING. — See CAT'S-PAW.
CAT'S HEAD, subs. (Winchester Col-
lege).— The end of a shoulder
of mutton ; further explained by
quotation.
1870. MANSFIELD, School-Life at
Winchester College, p. 84. His meal
[dinner] took place at six o'clock p.m. in
College (in Commoners' it was at one) ; it
was ample in quantity, and excellent in
quality. That of the Praefects was nicely
served in joints, that of the Inferiors was
divided into portions, (Dispars ; there
were, if I remember rightly, six of these
to a shoulder, and eight to a leg of mutton,
the other joints being divided in like pro-
portion. All these 'Dispars' had different
names ; the thick slice out of the centre
was called ' a Middle Cut,' that out of the
shoulder a ' Fleshy,' the ribs ' Racks,' the
loin. ' Long Dispars ' ; these were the best,
the more indifferent were the end of the
shoulder, or CAT'S HEAD, the breast, or
1 Fat Flab,' etc., etc.
CATS KIN -EARLS, subs, (parliamen-
tary).— The three senior earls in
the House of Lords, viz., the
Earls of Shrewsbury, Derby, and
Huntingdon, the only three earl-
doms before the seventeenth cen-
tury now existing, save those that
(like Arundel, Rutland, etc. ), are
merged in higher titles, and the
anomalous earldom of Devon
(1553), resuscitated in 1831. [A
correspondent of Notes and
Queries (7 S. ix., p. 314) suggests
that the reason of the application
may be that in the seventeenth or
late in the sixteenth century an
order was issued for the use of
ermine instead of the skin of cats
— (but were such skins then used ?)
— for the robes of a peer. If
so, however, it is curious that
there are not ' catskin dukes '
and ' catskin barons ' as well.
There is yet another theory : an
earl's robes consist (now) of but
three rows of ermine ; but in
some early representations they
are shown with four, the same as
(now) a duke ; and it has been
suggested that these four rows
(quatre -skins) may have given the
name of catskin. ]
1861-75. DEAN HOOK, Life of Car-
dinal Pole, vide note, p. 264. The Earl
of Huntingdon is one of the three CAT-
SKIN EARLS of the present day.
CAT'S-MEAT, subs, (common). —
The lungs. [The ' lights ' or
lungs of animals are usually sold
to feed cats.]
CATSO, subs, and intj. (old). — The
penis. Murray says : ' Also
CATZO. [a. It. cazzo = membrum
virile. Also an exclamation, Cf. ,
the English ejaculation, BALLS !
Florio says : ' also as cazzica, in-
terjection, "What ! God's me!
God forbid ! tush ! " '] Frequent
in seventeenth century in the
Italian senses ; also = rogue,
scamp, cullion. C/l, Fr. cut,
couille and couillon as terms of
contempt ; also see the later
GADSO.
CAT'S-PAW or CAT'S- FOOT, subs.
(common). — A dupe or tool.
[A reference to the fable (Ber-
trand et Raton] of a monkey
using the paw of a cat, dog, or
fox, to pull roasted chestnuts oft
the fire, current in the sixteenth
century, but varying considerably
in details. The earliest printed
Cat- Sticks.
59
Caulifloiver.
version occurs in John Sambucus'
Emblemata (Plantin, Antwerp,
1564), where the sufferer is a dog,
and not a cat. There is, how-
ever, a story of the same kind
told (Maiol. Coll. vii., scil Simon
Maiolus, Astensis, Episcopus Vul-
lurariensis, Dies Canicular es, h.e.
Colloquia XXIII. , Physica, Col-
log, vii., p. 249, Ursellis, 1600) of
Pope Julius II., 1503-13 {see N.
and Q., 6S., viii., 35.]
[1657. M. HAWKE. Killing is mur-
der. These he useth as the Monkey did
the CAT'S PAW to scrape the nuts out of
the fire.]
1782. GEO. PARKER, Humorous
Sketches, p. 140. They lug in Spain, to
their assistance, a CAT'S-PAW made.
1815. SCOTT, Guy Mannering, ch.
Ivi. Sir Robert, who had rather begun to
suspect that his plebeian neighbour had
made a CAT'S-PAW of him, inclined his
head stiffly.
1878. M. E. BRADDON, Cloven Foot,
ch. xli. He felt angry with himself for
having been in some wise a CAT'S-PAW t'o
serve the young man's malice.
CAT-STICKS, subs. (old). — Thin
legs. [In comparison to the stick
used by boys in the game of tip-
cat.] For synonyms see DRUM-
STICKS.
1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the
Vulgar Tongue, s.v.
CAT'S-WATER, subs, (common). —
Gin. [From CAT, a woman +
WATER, a white liquid.] Cf.,
BITCHES' WINE = champagne.
For synonyms, see DRINKS.
CATTIE, adj. and adv. (printers'). —
An imperfect or ' smutty ' look on
a printed sheet, caused by an oily
or unclean roller.
CATTING, verbal subs, (common). —
I. Vomiting. — See CAT, verb.
2. (venery). — Running after
loose women; MOLROWING (q.v.)
for synonyms.
1725. New Cant ing Dictionary. CAT-
TING : whoring.
CATTLE, subs, (common). — A term
of contempt applied to human
beings. Cf., QUEER CATTLE,
KITTLE CATTLE. The generic
names of the lower creation are
pretty generally used in such
transferred senses ; e.g., QUEER
FISH, DOWNY BIRD, PIGEON,
ROOK, SAD DOG, etc. In Eng-
land mostly employed dis-
paragingly, but in the U.S.A.
BUG — here the name of one of
the most offensive of vermin, but
there the common term for all
varieties of beetles — is used in a
good sense ; e.g., BIG BUG.
1579. GOSSON, School of Abuse, p. 27
(Arber's ed.). We have infinite Poets,
and Pipers, and suche peeuishe CATTEL
among vs in England e.
1600. SHAKSPEARE, As You Like It,
Act iii., Sc. 2, 435. Boyes and women
are .... CATTLE of this colour.
188(?) G. R. SIMS, Dagonet Ballads
(' Moll Jarvis'). Queer CATTLE is women
to deal with ? Lord bless ye, yer honour,
they are !
[CATTLE is often used of horses. See
Harrison Ainsworth's Rookwood: Have
you any horses ? Our Cattle are all blown.
Also Goldsmith's ' She Stoops to Conquer.']
CATTLE- BUG, subs. (American). —
See BUG, subs., sense 4.
CAUDGE-PAWED, adj. (old). — Left-
handed. — Grose.
CAUGHT ON THE FLY, phr. (Ameri-
can).— ' Caught in the act.' .An
equivalent of ' caught on the hop '
or 'hip.' — Set HOP.
CAULIFLOWER, subs. (old). — i. A
clerical wig supposed to resemble
Caidk.
60
Caution,
a cauliflower ; modish in the time
of Queen Anne.
2. (old). —The female pu-
dendum. For synonyms, see
MONOSYLLABLE.
3. (popular). — The foaming
head of a tankard of beer. In
France, a glass of beer without
any head is termed un bock sans
linge or sans faux-col.
1882. Dally Telegraph, Oct. 10, p.
5, col. 4. This gave the porter a fine
frothy or CAULIFLOWER head. [M.]
4. (military). — In plural. —
The Forty-seventh Regiment of
Foot, so called from its white
facings. It is also known as THE
LANCASHIRE LADS from its county
title.
CAULK, subs, and verb (nautical). —
i. Sleep ; to sleep. In sub-
stantive form it sometimes ap-
pears as CAULKING. To CAULK
formerly meant 'to pick out a
soft plank,' i.e., to lie down on
deck ; to sleep with one's clothes
on. [Cf., BUNDLING.]
1836. MARRYAT, Midshipman Easy,
ch. xix. But it's no go with old Small-
sole, if I want a bit of CAULK.
18.il. Chambers Papers, No. 52, p.
30. Sleeping upon deck is called, I know
not why, CALKING
2. Verb. — To cease ; to shut
up ; i.e., to stop one's talk or
leave off talking. [This usage
is obviously derived from the
legitimate meaning of the word,
to stop up crevices and seams.]
For synonyms, see STOW IT.
3. (common) . — To copulate ;
to do the 'act of kind.' For
synonyms, see RIDE.
CAULKER, subs, (common). — i. A
dram; a stiff glass of grog -
generally applied to a finishing
bumper. When this happens
to be sherry and follows the
drinking of red wines it is called
a WHITEWASH (q.v.). [There
are three suggested derivations :
(i) that it is a punning reference
to caulking, that which serves to
keep out the wet ; (2) because
such a draught takes a deal of
swallowing ; and (3) that it is a
corruption of CORKER (q.v. ), a
regular stopper.] For synonyms,
see Go.
1808. J. MAYNE, Siller Gun, 89
(Jam.). The magistrates wi' loyal din,
Tak off their CAU'KERS. [M.]
1836. M. SCOTT, Cruise of the Midge,
ch vi. We . . . finished off with a
CAULKER of good cognac.
1849. C. KINGSLEY, Alton Locke,
ch. xxi. 'Take a CAULKER? Summat
heavy, then?'
1871. A. FORBES, My Experiences of
the War between France and Germany,
II., p. 201. The Mobile officer joins us
heartily in a CAULKER, and does not need
to be pressed to take a little supper.
1884. W. C. RUSSELL, Jack's Court-
ship, ch. viii. The CAULKER of rum
served out under the break of the poop by
the light of a bull's-eye lamp.
2. (popular). — A lie; any-
thing surprising or incredible.
For synonyms, see WHOPPER.
1884. W. C. RUSSELL, Jack's Court-
ship, ch. xxxi. I also took care that she
should never afterwards be able to charge
me with having told her a real CAULKER.
CAUTION, subs, (popular). — A col-
loquialism used both of men and
things. Anything out of the
common, or that conveys a warn-
ing ; something wonderful or
staggering ; something to be
avoided. Anything that causes
surprise, wonder, fear, or indeed
any uncommon emotion, is a CAU-
TION to this, that, or the other.
Cautionary.
6t
Caviare.
At Oxford in 1865 it was em-
ployed to designate a * guy ' or
' cure. '
1835. C. F. HOFFMAN, Winter in the
West, p. 234. The way the icy blast
would come down the bleak shore was a
CAUTION.
1853. WH. MF.LVILLE, Digby Grand,
ch. ii. 'The way he cleaned out a
southerner, a fine young Carolinian, who
made a series of matches with him, was,
as the Squire himself would have said, a
CAUTION.'
1861. WHYTE MELVILLE, Good for
Nothing, ch. i. Such a clench of the
slender hand and stamp of the slender foot
as constitute what our American friends
term a CAUTION.
CAUTIONARY, adj. (American). —
Pertaining to that which is a
CAUTION (q.V.).
1843-4. HALIBURTON, Sam Slick in
Rngland. Well, the way the cow cut dirt
was CAUTIONARY ; she cleared stumps,
ditches, windfalls, and everything.
CAVAULTING or CAVOLTING, verbal
subs. (old). — Sexual intercourse.
[From the Lingua Franca cavolta^
the equivalent of HORSING or
RIDING, both of which are fre-
quently used in the same sense.
Italian cavaliero = a rake or de-
bauchee.] Cf., CAVORT. For
synonyms, see GREENS.
CAVAULTING SCHOOL, subs, (old). —
A house of ill-fame. — See CA-
VAULTING, and for synonyms, see
NANNY-SHOP.
CAVE or CAVE \N,verb (American).
— To give way when opposition
can no longer be maintained ; to
break down ; to ' turn up.' [De-
rived from the practice of navvies
in digging earthworks, when the
lower part is undei mined until it
can no longer sustain the over-
hanging mass. Murray says all
the earliest instances of CAVE IN,
in print, are from America, and
its literary use appears to have
arisen there ; but, as the word
is given as East Anglian by
Forby [1830], and is widely used
in Eng. dialects, it is generally
conjectured to have reached the
U.S. from East Anglia.] The
French has barrer ; the Spanish
acomodarse ; and the Fourbesque
battere.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. To
knuckle under ; knock under ;
give in ; sing small ; turn it up ;
chuck it up ; jack up ; climb down
(g.v. ), throwupthesporge; chuck
it ; go down ; go out ; cut ii ;
cut the rope (pugilistic), etc.
1837-40. HALIBURTON, Sam Slick,
Hum. Nat., 55 (Bartlett). He was a
plucky fellow, and warn't a goin' to CAVE
IN that way.
1862. BROWN (' Artemus Ward '), His
Book. I kin CAVE IN enny man's head
that, etc.
1869. S. L. CLEMENS (' Mark Twain '),
Innocents at Home. In the meantime the
tropical sun was beating down and
threatening to CAVE the top of my head
IN.
1883. HAWLEY SMART, Hard Lines,
ch. xxii. ' The Russians will CAVE when
they find we are in earnest.'
CAVE! intj. (Eton College).—
' Beware ! ' A byword among
boys out of bounds when a master
is in sight. [From the Latin.
The modern, ' beware of the dog '
was rendered cave canem by the
Romans. ]
CAVIARE, subs, (literary). — The 'ob-
noxious matter ' blacked out ' by
the Russian Press Censor. Every
foreign periodical entering Russia
is examined for objectionable
references or ' irreligious ' matter,
the removal whereof is accom-
plished in 'two ways. If the
articles or items are bulky,
Cavort.
62
Caz.
they are torn or cut out
bodily. If they are brief, they
are ' blacked out ' by means of a
rectangular stamp about as wide
as an ordinary newspaper column,
and ' cross-hatched ' in such a
way that, when inked and dabbed
upon the paper, it makes a close
network of white lines and black
diamonds. The peculiar mottled
or grained look of a page thus
treated has suggested the attribu-
tive CAVIARE : a memory of
the look of the black salted
caviare spread upon a slice of
bread and butter. A verb has
been formed from the noun, and
every Russian now understands
that ' to caviare ' = to 'black out.'
Of course as long as the Russian
Government permits the entry of
letters without censorial exami-
nation, any citizen of St. Peters-
burg or Moscow can write to
Berlin, Paris, or London, and ask
to have cut out and forwarded in
a sealed envelope either a particu-
lar article that has been CAVI-
ARED, or all articles relating to
Russia that may appear in any
specified newspaper or magazine.
1890. St. J antes s Gaz.. 25 April, p. 7,
col. i. Every one of Mr. Kennan's
articles in the Century has been CAVIARED.
CAVORT, verb (American). — To
prance ; to frisk ; to run or ride
in a heedless or purposeless man-
ner. [From the Lingua Franca
cavolta — prancing on horseback.
Some, however, derive it from
' curvetting ' = capering for show ;
there are also, as possible sources,
the Spanish cavar^ the pawing of
a spirited horse ; and the French
courbetter.~\ — See CAVAULTING.
1848. Major Jones s Courtship, 41
(Bartlett). A whole gang . . . came
ridin' up, and reinin' in, and pranciu', and
CAVORTIN'.
1883. BRET HARTE, In the Car-
quinez Woods, ch. i. ' If we had'nt been
CAVORTING round this yer spot for the
last half-hour I'd swear there was a shanty
not a hundred yards away/ said the
sheriff.
1889. Puck's Library, April, p. 12.
Being an educated man, I feel ten
thousand woes CAVORTING for the popu-
lace In illustrated clothes.
CAWBAWN. — See COBBON.
CAW HANDED, or CAW PAWED. —
Awkward; not dexterous, ready
or nimble. — Grose [1785].
CAXTON, stibs. (theatrical). — A wig.
[A corruption of CAXON, a kind
of wig.] In Grose's time a CAXON
signified an old weather-beaten
wig. Cf.y CAULIFLOWER.
CAYUSE, subs. (American). — A nick-
name given by Mormon girls to
young ' Latter Day Saints ' : the
* Yahoos ' of the Gentiles.
[The CAYUSE is properly the
common Indian pony. In
explanation, it must be noted
that there exists among
Americans a passionate love of
horses. A near and dear friend,
an old companion, or men and
women whose traits of character
command respect and homage,
are familiarly ' horses.' A dis-
tinguished Kentuckian carried
away by enthusiasm for Miss
Kemble's acting, started to his
feet, and with tremendous energy
roared out, ' By heaven she's a
" horse." '] See OLD HOG.
CAZ, subs, (thieves'). — Cheese. —
[See C ASS AN.]
1812. J. H. VAUX, Flash Dictionary.
CAZ: cheese; 'As good as CAZ,' i.-, a
phrase signifying that any projected fraud
or robbery may be easily and certainly
accomplished.
Caze
Cellar-Flap.
CAZE, subs, (venery). — The female
pudendum.
CEDAR, subs. (Eton College). — I.
A pair-oared boat inrigged, with-
out canvas, and very 'crank.'
[From the material.]
2. (prison). — A pencil. [This,
like the foregoing, is derived from
the wood of which both are
made.]
CELESTIAL POULTRY, subs, (popu-
lar).— Angels. [An allusion to
the mythological wings of ' men
out of the body.']
CELESTIALS, subs, (military).— The
Ninety-seventh Regiment of
Foot. [So nicknamed from its
facings of sky blue.]
1856. Notes and Queries, 2 S., ii.,
p. 215. The 97th too is not mentioned by
your correspondents as far as I have seen,
the CELESTIALS.
1871. Chambers' Journal, Dec. 23,
p. 801. ' CELESTIALS ' — the facings of the
. . . corps being sky blue.
2. sing, (common). — A ' turn-
up' or ' pug ' nose. For synonyms,
see CONK.
3. (colloquial). — The Chinese.
The Chinese Empire is spoken
of as the Celestial Empire.
CELLIER, subs. (old). — An out-and-
out, unmitigated lie. [A word of
great interest, illustrating the
temporary use for certain purposes
of the name of a certain person,
as in the cases of BURKE, BOY-
COTT, BISHOP, and SALISBURY
(q.v.\ The Meal-tub Plot in
1680 was the concoction of
Thomas Dangerfield and Eliza-
beth Cellier, a Roman Catholic
midwife. Forged documents
which Dangerfield hid in
Colonel Mansel's lodgings were
upon his deposition found
there by Government officers ;
but the fraud was soon discovered,
and Dangerfield was committed
to Newgate. On his trial he
endeavoured to throw the entire
blame on Mrs. Cellier, and
asserted that the original papers
were all to be found in her house
hidden in a meal tub. This
turned out to be true, and Mrs.
Cellier was committed to prison.
On her trial she managed to
prove that Dangerfield was wholly
unworthy of credit, and her
marvellous impudence and vigor-
ous mendacity led to her own
acquittal, and made her name
for the time the equivalent of
'an out-and-out lie.' After her
trial she thanked the jurors for
giving her a good deliverance,
and offered to ' serve their ladies
with the same fidelity in their
deliveries.'] For synonyms, see
WHOPPER.
1 682. Popes Harbinger, p. 79. That's
a CELIER, Sir, a modern and most proper
phrase to signifie any Egregious Lye.
CELLAR- FLAP, subs, (common). —
A step or dance performed
within the compass of (say) a
CELLAR-FLAP. The object of
the Whitechapel artist in the
dance is to achieve as many
changes of step as possible with-
out shifting his ground : his
action being restricted to the feet
and legs. An old equivalent is
To CUT CAPERS ON A
TRENCHER ; also DOUBLE-
SHUFFLE (q.v.).
1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude,
ch. iii., p. 219. Others again would in-
dulge in a breakdown, or CELLAR-FLAP
dance, dreadfully to the discomfort of the
men in the cells below.
Cent.
64
Chaff.
CENT. NOT WORTH A CENT, phr. —
See CARE and FIG.
CENT PER CENT, subs, (common). —
A usurer. [Literally one who
charges an exorbitant rate of
interest, here symbolized as a
hundred for every hundred.
Quoted by Grose (1785).] For
synonyms, see SIXTY PER CENT.
CENTRE-OF-BLISS, subs, (common).
— The female pudendum. For
synonyms, see MONOSYLLABLE.
CENTURION, subs, (cricket). — A
batsman who scores a hundred
runs. [From CENTURION, the
commander of a ' century,' in the
Roman Army.]
1886. Graphic ', 31 July, p. 107, col. 2.
Some other CENTURIONS have been
Chatterton (108) for M.C.C., Shater (103,
not out) for Trent.
CENTURY, subs. (turf). — A hundred
pounds; or at cricket, etc., a
score of a hundred. Originally
a division of the Roman Army
numbering 100 men. In English
it was and is in common use to
signify a group of a hundred.
Shakspeare, in Cymbeline> iv.,
2, 391 [1611], writes a
'CENTURY' of prayers. See also
A. C. Swinburne, A Century of
Rondels and W. E. Henley,
A Century of A rtists ( 1 889). Cf. ,
MONKEY, PONY, etc.
1864. Derby Day, p. 131. ' I'm open
to a bet. I'll lay you an even CENTURY
about Nimrod.'
1869. Daily News, July 29. ' Police
Court Report.' After this he said he
searched the breeches pockets that were
lying by the side of the bed, and took
HALF A CENTURY worth of property from
them.
1883. Echo, Nov. i, p. 4, col. 2.
Golding. . . . purchased Passaic from
F. Archer for a CENTURY.
1883. Graphic, August n, p. 138,
col. 2. His batting this year has been of
the highest order, as witnesses among his
many good performances that against the
Players, when he marked his CENTURY.
CERT, subs, (sporting). — A certainty,
of which it is an abbrevia-
tion. With special reference
in racing circles to events looked
upon as absolutely sure. Vari-
ants are A DEAD, or MORAL, CER-
TAINTY ; A DEAD 'UN ; and A
MORAL.
1859. Letter from EDWARD S. TAYLOR
to John Camden Hotten, 22 Dec. This
edition will sell to a DEAD CERTAINTY.
1889. Man of the World, June 29.
' Love-in-Idleness is bound to take the
Rous Memorial, and I hear Pioneer is a
CEKT. for the St. James's.'
CERTAINTIES, subs, (printers'). —
Infants of the male sex. — See
UNCERTAINTIES.
CHAFE, verb (old). — To thrash
soundly. [Chafe = 'to warm, ''to
rub with the hand.' C/.,
ANOINT.] For synonyms, see
TAN.
1673. R. HEAD, Canting Acad., p. 36
1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the Vul-
gar Tongue. CHAFED : well beaten.
CHAFER, verb (common). — To
copulate. [Probably a corruption
of CHAUVER.] For synonyms, see
RIDE.
CHAFF, subs. (colloquial). — i.
Ironical or sarcastic banter ; fool-
ing ; humbug ; ridicule. [A word
of uncertain derivation, which,
except in two instances, both
doubtful, does not appear in
English literature, in either its
substantive or its verbal form,
before the beginning of the
present century. Of the two the
substantive seems to be the
Chaff.
Chaff-Cutter.
earlier. If this be correct,
Murray thinks it may have
arisen from a figurative employ-
ment of the orthodox word, in the
sense of * refuse,' ' worthless
matter,' etc., connected with
which is the proverb ' an old bird
is not caught with chaff.' On
the other hand there is an Arabic
wordya/or chaf, ' dry, withered '
(like the Greek irap^oc), used
metaphorically and vulgarly in a
sense similar to ' humbug. ' To
CHAFF a man is vulgo, to humbug
him ; for humbug, like chaff, is
what may be scattered before the
wind — what is light, trivial, or
unfounded — an act of folly or
knavery. — See, however, verb,
sense I.]
[Murray in dealing with this word
leads off his illustrative quotations with
one (see quot. 1648) which he thinks may
be uncertainly placed, as it may mean
'scolding.' There is, however, another
instance, which, though also uncertain,
may be a link in the chain of evidence.
In this case CHAFFING may bear its modern
slang_ signification, though as has been
said, it is open to another reading.]
For synonyms, see GAMMON,
sense I.
164(?). The Downfall of C Taring-
Cross. Percy Ballads, II., p. 327 [ed.
1765]. Undone, undone, the Lawyers are,
They wander about the towne, Nor find
the way to Westminster, Now Charing-
Cross is downe : At the end of the Strand
they make a stand, Swearing they are at a
loss, And CHAFFING say that's not the way,
They must go by Charing-Cross
1648. JENKYN, Blind Guide, iv., 76.
You pretend to nothing but CHAFFE and
scoffes. [M.]
1821. The Fancy, vol. I., 250. He
could not of course put up with CHAFF in
the streets.
1853. Diogenes, II., 79. ' Maxims
for Cabmen ' If you want oats for your
horses you must cease giving CHAFF to
your passengers.
1864. Athenaum, 29 Oct., No. 1931,
p. 557, col. 3. Julius Caesar passed his
boyhood in a vicious locality, where cant
phrases abounded, but the latter are not
recorded. We have heard of the Famee
non nimium bonte puellte, Quales in media
sedent Suburra — but we hear only faint
echoes of the CHAFF that was scattered
thereupon by the passers-by.
1890. Globe, Feb. 13, p. 5, col. 2.
The extract you send to me from some
letter from Lord Rosebery about the House
of Lords looks to me very like CHAFF, and
was probably intended as such.
2. (Christ's Hospital). — A
small article or plaything, e.g.,
' a pocket CHAFF.' Connected
with 'chattel,' 'chapman,' etc.
— Blanch. Cf., verbal (sense 2),
adjectival, and interjectional
Verb. — i. To banter ; to jest ;
to ' gammon ' or ' quiz. ' An
analogous term formerly in use
was QUEER (q.v.}. So al o
CHAFFING and CHAFFINGLY. For
synonyms, see GAMMON, sense I.
1851. MAYHEW, Lon. Lab and Lon.
Poor, I., p. 35. Though he's only twelve
years old he'll CHAFF down a peeler so un-
common severe that the only way to stop
him is to take him in charge.
1864. H. AIDE, Mr. and Mrs. Paul-
conbridge, I., 279. ' Pshaw ! ' said Sir
Richard, with a lofty good humour, ' Don't
CHAFF your uncle, sir.'
1889. T. MACKAY, on 'Shoeblacks,'
in Times, Aug., p. 135. I have known
courageous men who would rather try to
CHAFF a bus driver than a shoeblack.
2. (Christ's Hospital).— To ex-
change small articles. Cf. , subs.
sense.
1877. W. H. BLANCH, Blue-coat
Boys, p. 96. CHAFF me your knife.
Adj. (Christ's Hospital).—
Pleasant ; glad. Sometimes
CHAFFY. Cf., subs., sense 2.
Intj. (Christ's Hospital). — An
exclamation signifying joy or
pleasure.
CHAFF-CUTTER, subs. (old). — A
back-biter or slanderer.
5
Chaffer.
65
CJiairmarking.
CHAFFER, subs, (colloquial). — i.
One given to chaffing. [From
CHAFF (.
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Labour
and London Poor, vol. I., p. 357. She
was considered to be the best CHAFFER on
the road ; not one of them could stand
against her tongue.
1877. Temple Bar, p. 536. An actor
of very moderate abilities, and so remark-
ably ^-favoured in person as to be the
constant butt of the CHAFFERS in the pit.
2. (popular). — The mouth,
[i.e., the organ of chaff, or 'ro-
pery.'] For synonyms, see Po-
TATO-TRAP. Also, the tongue.
1821. W. T. MONCRIEFF, Tom and
Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 3. Bob. Suppose we
haves a drain o' heavy wet, just by way of
cooling our CHAFFERS — mine's as dry as a
chip.
1822. DAVID CAREY, Life in Paris,
p. 194. For there you may damp your
CHAFFER In fifty different ways.
To MOISTEN ONE'S CHAFFER,
phr. (common). — To drink. [See
CHAFFER, sense 2.] For syno-
nyms, see LUSH.
CHAFFING-CRIB, subs, (old).— The
place where a man receives his in-
timates ; his ' den,' ' snuggery,'
or * diggings.' [Cf., CHAFF.
From CHAFFING, light talk, +
CRIB, a place of sojourning.] For
synonyms, see DIGGINGS.
1821. MONCRIEFF, Tom and Jerry,
Jerry. CHAFFING CRIB ! I'm at fault,
coz, can't follow. Tom. My prattling
parlour — my head quarters, coz, where I
unbend with my pals.
CHAFFY, adj. (colloquial). — Full of
banter. [From CHAFF, sttbs.,
+ Y.]
1889. Bird o' Freedom, Aug 7, p. 3.
CHAFFY answers were all he got at first.
CHAINED or CHAIN LIGHTNING,
subs. — (American). — Whiskey of
the vilest description — a spirit
' warranted to kill at forty rods.'
Hence FORTY ROD LIGHTNING,
STONE-FENCE, RAILROAD, ROT-
GUT, and KILL - THE - CARTER
(Scots). For synonyms, see
DRINKS. In the Western States
of America, what is known as
forked lightning in England, is
called CHAIN-LIGHTNING, from
its forming a sequence of zig-zags.
1871. DE VERB, Americanisms p.
215. The worst of lickers, as the sign-
boards often have it in unconscious irony,
is called CHAIN-LIGHTNING, from its
terrible strength and stunning effect.
CHAIN-GANG, subs, (thieves'). —
Jewellers ; watch-chain makers.
The French argot has un boguiste
(thieves') and un chainiste.
CHAIR. To PUT IN THE CHAIR,
phr. (cab-drivers'). — See quot.
1864. Social Science Review, I., 408.
A Justice's order is sufficient for the
committal to prison of a cab hirer
(driver) who will not or cannot pay. . .
Some hirers who become inured to prison
discipline and prison fare get altogether
hardened, and boast of the number of
owners whom they have PUT IN THE
CHAIR or in polite English neglected to
pay.
CHAIRMARKING, verbal subs, (cab-
owners'). — Inserting the date in
a cab-driver's licence in words
instead of figures : or, endorsing
it in an unusually bold, heavy
hand : a hint to possible em-
ployers that the holder is un-
desirable. In other trades it is
understood that an unexception-
able character, with the adjectives
carefully underlined, is to be read
as implying just the opposite of
what it appears to say.
1890. Pall Mall Gazette, Sept. 15.
A correspondent writes to protest against
the heading 'A Cabman's Odxi Com-
plaint,' which was given in these columns
on Saturday to a paragraph concerning the
CHAIR-MARKING of a licence.
Chaldese.
Chalk.
CHALDESE, verb (old). — To trick,
cheat, or « take in.' [Thought to
be from ' Chaldee,' in allusion to
astrology. Cf., to JEW.] For
synonyms, see STICK.
16(54. BUTLER, Hudibras, II., iii.,
ioio. He stole your cloak and pick'd
your pocket, Chows'd and CALDES'D you
like a blockhead.
1680. Rem. (1759), I., 24. Asham'd,
that Men so grave and wise, Should be
CHALDES'D by Gnats and Flies. [M ]
1697. DENNIS, Plot and No Plot, I.
I CALDES'D a Judge while he was taking
my Depositions. [M.]
CHALK, subs, (colloquial). — i. A
score, reckoning ; and (in a more
decidedly slang sense) BY CHALKS,
MANY CHALKS, LONG CHALKS,
etc., i.e., ' degrees ' or ' marks ' ;
also 'credit,' ^or 'tick.' Cf.t
CLOCK STOPPED.
1529. SKELTON, El. Rummyng, 613.
We're fayne with a CHALKE To score on
the balke. [M.]
1592. NASHE, P. Penilesse, B j b.
Hee that hath no money must goe and
dine with Sir John best betrust, at the
signe of the CHALKE and the Post.
1634. S. R., Noble Soldier, v., 3, in
TJullen's O. PI., I., 333. There's hsse
CHALKE upon you[r] score of sinnes. [M.]
1704. T. BROWN, Lat. on Fr. King,
wks. (1730) I., 60. I trespassed most
enormously in CHALK. [M.]
1719. D/URFEY, Pills (1872), I., 270.
This wheedling talk you fancy will rub
out my CHALK.
1838-40. HALIBURTON, The Clock-
maker (ed. 1862), p. 102. They reckon
themselves here a CHALK above us
Yankees . . .
1864-5. EDMUND YATES, Broken to
Harness, I., p. 174. ' Can you say that I
have deceived or thrown you over in any
way? Never!' 'Thank God for that!1
says the girl, with some bitterness ; ' for
that's a CHALK in my favor, at least.'
2. (nautical). — A scratch or
scar. Cf., verb, sense 2, and
CHALKERS, sense i.
1840. MARRYAT, Poor Jack, vi. I
got this CHALK.
Adj. (turf). — Unknown or in-
competent. [From the practice
at race-meetings of keeping blank
slides at the telegraph board on
which the names of new jockeys
can be inscribed in chalk, while
the names of well-known men are
usually painted or printed in
permanent characters. The for-
mer were called CHALK-jockeys,
and the general public argued that
they were incompetent, being un-
known. ]
Verb (old).— r. To score up, or
tick off, in chalk, a material at one
time handier than pen-and-ink.
Subsequently in pugilistic circles
merit marks, etc., were made with
the same.
2. (nautical). — To make one
' stand treat ' or ' pay his footing.'
If an old hand succeeds in CHALK-
ING the shoes of a green hand,
the latter has to ' stand drinks
all round.'
3. (thieves').— To strike,
CHALKERS, sense i.
C/.,
1822. SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel, ch.
xvii. (II., p. 84). CHALK him across the
peepers with your cheery [which, trans-
lated, means slash him over the eyes with
your dagger].
TO CHALK UP, or TO CHALK IT
UP, phr. (common). — To credit,
or take credit ; to put to one's
account.
1597. T.st Pt. Return Parnass., I., i.,
451. All my debts stande CHAUKT UPON
the poste for liquor. [M.]
1611. CHAPMAN, May-Day, Act t., p.
278 (Plays, 1874). Faith, sir, she [hostess]
has CHALKED UP twenty shillings already,
and swears she will CHALK no more.
1843. Punch's Almanack, Jan. . . .
' When you wish for beer resort freely to
the CHALK, and go on, getting as much as
you can upon this principle, until it
becomes unproductive, when you may try
it in another quarter.'
Chalk.
68
Chalkers.
TO BEAT BY LONG Or MANY
CHALKS, phr. (common). — To
beat thoroughly ; to show appre-
ciable superiority.
1837. R. H. BARHAM, Ingoldsby
Legends (ed. 1862), p. 447. Still Sir
Alured's steed was BY LONG CHALKS the
best Of the party, and very soon distanced
the rest.
1838-40. HALIBURTON, The Clock-
maker^ p. 26 (ed. 1826). 'Yes,' says he,
' your factories down East beat all natur ;
they go ahead on the English a LONG
CHALK.'
1856. C. BRONTE, Professor, ch. iii.
1 You are not as fine a fellow as your
plebeian brother BY A LONG CHALK/
1883. GRENVILLE MURRAY, People I
Have Met, p. 133. The finest thing in
the world ; or, as he himself would have
expressed it, ' the best thing out BY MANY
CHALKS.'
TO WALK Or STUMP ONE'S
CHALKS, phr. (popular). — To
move or run away ; to be off.
[Said to be a corruption of 'walk !
you're chalked,' the origin of
which is found in the ancient prac-
tice of lodgings for the royal re-
tinue being taken arbitrarily by
the marshal and sergeant-cham-
berlain, when the inmates were
sent to the right about, and their
houses designated by a chalk mark.
When Mary de Medicis came to
England in 1638, Sieur de Labat
was employed to mark * all sorts of
houses commodious for her re-
tinue in Colchester.' The same
custom is referred to in the Life
and Acts of Sir William Wallace,
To STUMP (q.v.} = io go on foot.]
For synonyms, see AMPUTATE.
1840. HALIBURTON, Clockmaker, 38.,
ch. xi. ' The way she WALKS HER CHALKS
ain't no matter. She is a regular fore-and-
after.'
1843. Comic Almanack, p. 366. And
since my future walk's chalk'd out — at
Once I'll WALK MY CHALKS.
187 1 . DE VERB, A mericanisms, p. 3 18.
The President, in whom he is dis-
appointed for one reason or another, does
not come up to chalk ; when he dis-
misses an official, he is made to WALK THE
CHALK.
TO BE ABLE TO WALK A CHALK,
fhr. (popular). — To be sober.
The ordeal on board ship of
trying men suspected of drunken-
ness is to make them walk along
a line chalked on the deck, with-
out deviating to right or left. C/.,
MAKING CHALKS and TOE THE
LINE (q.v.}.']
MAKING CHALKS, phr. (nauti-
cal cadets'). — A term connected
with the punishment of boys on
board ship, and in the Royal
Naval School. Two chalk lines
are drawn wide apart on the
deck or floor, and the boy to be
punished places a foot on each
of these lines, and stoops, there-
by presenting a convenient sec-
tion of his person to the boat-
swain or master.
TO CHALK THE LAMP-POST,
phr. (American). — To bribe.
For synonyms, see GREASE THE
PALM.
1857. Boston Post, March 5. CHALK-
ING THE LAMP POST. ' The term for
bribery in Philadelphia.'
There are other expressions
connected with chalk, such as
' to know chalk from cheese,'
'to chalk out,' etc., but these
hardly find a place here.
CHALKERS, subs. (old). — i. Men of
wit in Ireland, who in the night
amuse themselves with cutting
inoffensive passengers across the
face with a knife. They are
somewhat like those facetious
gentlemen, some time ago known
in England by the title of
sweaters and mohocks. — Grose.
See Ireland Sixty I ears Since
(p. IS)-
Chalk-Farm.
69
Chance.
2. sing, (common). — A London
milkman. — See quot. [One who
mixes with chalk — an obvious
innuendo.] Cf., Cow WITH THE
IRON TAIL and SIMPSON'S cow.
1865. Daily Telegraph, Sept. 7 (?).
It is an ominous fact that London milk-
men are known in the vocabulary of slang
as CHALKERS.
CHALK- FARM ,subs. (rhyming-slang).
— The arm.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Bender;
hoop-stick ; h'n ; daddle.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. L'anse
( popular : in old French cant
ause signified the * ear ') ; les
allumettes (popular : ' the arms');
l\a^aile or 1\e^ aileron (popu-
lar : in the Fourbesque aid) ;
les nageoires (plural).
ITALIAN SYNONYMS. Ala (' a
wing ') ; barbacana (literally a
kind of advanced fortification) ;
tarentule (the Italian has taran-
tella, ' a spider
SPANISH SYNONYMS. Bracio ;
remo (properly ' an oar ').
CHALK-HEAD, subs. (old). — A nick-
name for a person with a ' good
head for figures.' Waiters in
London are very commonly so
called. — See quot. 1861. [From
the ' chalks ' or score formerly
marked up behind a tavern bar,
the 'tally' being 'kept in the
head ' instead of being ' chalked
up ' on a board or slate. ]
1856. Punch, vol. XXXI., p. 134.
Billy. You see, Billy, my heddication
war summat neglected, and I haven't got
the nateral adwantage of a good CHALK -
HEAD.
1861. Punch, vol. XLL, p. 129.
Among tavern waiters a ready reckoner
is called a good CHALK-HEAD.
CHAM or CHAM MY, subs, (popular).
— An abbreviation of ' cham-
pagne.' For synonyms, see
DRINKS. Cf., BOY.
1871. All the Year Round, Feb. 18,
p. 285. ' Let's have glasses round. Come
and have a bottle of CHAM.'
CHAMBER OF HORRORS, subs. phr.
— I . (parliamentary). — The
Peeresses' Gallery in the House
of Lords. Cf., CAGE, sense 4.
1876. Daily News. There could be
no doubt as to the inconvenience, the
gallery being generally known as the
CHAMBER OF HORRORS.
2. In plural (common). —
Sausages. [From the possibility
of adulteration in this species
of food. Also BAGS OF
MYSTERY, and SHARP'S ALLEY
BLOODWORMS.] In Fourbesque,
carbonata.
CHAMMING, ror£o/.r»&r. (common).
— Indulgence in champagne.
[From CHAM, -verb (on the model
of 'to wine,' ' to beer,' etc.), to
drink champagne, + ING.]
CHANCE. To HAVE AN EYE TO THE
MAIN CHANCE, phr. (colloquial).
To keep in view that which will
result in advantage, interest or
gain. [Thought to have origin-
ated in the phraseology of the
game of hazard.] Murray, quot-
ing from the Diet. Cant. Crewt
says that ' to have an eye to
the main chance' was a
cant phrase in 1699, and that
the expression still partakes of
the character. All the quota-
tions given in the N.E.D. prior
to 1699, illustrate a simpler
form of the colloquialism, such
as to ' stand to the main chance,'
but it will be seen that TO HAVE
AN EYE TO THE MAIN CHANCE
is more than a hundred years
older.
Cluuicer.
70
Change.
1609. JONSON, Case is Altered, IV.,
4. Juniper, to the door ; AN EYE TO THE
MAIN CHANCE. \_Retnoves the dung, and
sheivs him the gold.]
1693. DRYDEN, Persius, VI., 158.
Be careful still of the MAIN CHANCE, my
son ; Put out the principal in trusty
hands.
1711. Spectator, No. 196. I am very
young, and yet no one in the world, dear
sir, has the MAIN CHANCE more in HER
HEAD than myself.
1844. DICKENS, Martin Chuzzleiuit,
ch. xviii., p. 190. 'Was it politics? Or
was it the price of stock?' ' The MAIN
CHANCED Mr. Jonas, the MAIN CHANCE, I
suspect.
CHANGER, subs, (tailors'). — A liar.
Also an incompetent workman:
i.e., one who * chances ' what he
cannot do.
CHANCERY. IN CHANCERY, adv.
phr. (common). — 'To have or get
your man in chancery ' is to get
his head under your left arm so
that you can FIB (q.v.) him with
your right until he gets it out, or
you GO TO GRASS (q.v.} together.
Primarily pugilistic. Figuratively
the expression = in a parlous case,;
in an awkward fix. The French
have adopted the phrases meltre
en chancellerie and coup ae chan-
cel Jerie which are almost literal
translations.
1819. THOMAS MOORE, Tom Crib's
Memorial to Congress, p. 77. Lord
St-w-rt's a hero (as many suppose) and the
Lady he woos is a rich and a rare one ;
his heart ib IN CHANCERY, every one
knows, and so would his head be, if thou
wert his fair one.
1845. Punch, vol. IX., p. 9. ' Lord
Brougham's Handbook for Political Box-
ing ' Getting the nob INTO CHANCERY
is a fine achievement, I once got several
nobs INTO CHANCERY : and I certainly
gave several of them severe punishment.
This CHANCERY manoeuvre has been a
capital thing for me.
1860. Chambers Journal, vol. XIII.,
p. 15. Marsden suffered him to approach
within distance, dashed his outstretched
arms away, and received his transatlantic
head INTO CHANCERY.
1883. Daily News, g Mar., p. 3, col. 7.
Thinking the man was a burglar he rode
up to assist, and saw the constable hold-
ing Burtenshaw, and striking him. The
constable had the prisoner IN CHANCERY.
CHANCE THE DUCKS, phr. (com-
mon).— An expression signitying
'come what may.' [From the
colloquial use of CHANCE, to risk,
or take one's chance of + DUCKS
(q.v.}, probably a pleonasm. Cf.,
PLEASE THE PIGS.
1886. T. RATCLIFFE, in N.andQ.,
7 S., i., 108. An' CHANCE THE DUCKS —
this when a man makes up his mind to a
risky venture. He will say, ' I'll do it,
an' CHANCE TH' DUCKS."
CHANCE YOUR ARM,//&r. (tailors').
— ' Chance it ! ' ' Try it on ! '
etc.— [See CHANCE THE DUCKS,
— of which it seems a variant.]
CHANEY-EYED, adj. (common). —
One-eyed. [From CHANEY, a
corruption of ' China ' or
* Chinese ' ; hence, eyes as small
as those of the Celestials.] Cf.,
SQUINNY-EYED.
CHANGE. — This word, in the sense
of coins of one denomination
given in exchange for those of
another is responsible for several
expressive colloquialisms.
To GIVE CHANGE, phr. (com-
mon). — To ' pay out ' ; to give
one his deserts. Cf., To TAKE
ONE'S CHANGE OUT OF.
TO HAVE ALL ONE'S CHANGE
ABOUT ONE, phr. (common). —
To be clever ; quick-witted ;
quite ' compos mentis ' ; with
' twelve pence to the shilling
about one.'
TO PUT THE CHANGE ON, phr.
(old). — To deceive, or mislead.
CJiange.
Change.
Apparently for a long time a
contemporary variant of TO
RING THE CHANGES.
1667. DRYDEN, Sir Martin Marr-all,
Act ii. Warn. ... By this light, she
has PUT THE CHANGE UPON HIM ! O,
sweet womankind ! how I love thee for
that heavenly gift of lying !
1671. R. HEAD, English Rogue, pt.
I., ch. xvi., p. 168 (1874). The box-keeper
shall walk off, pretending some speedy
dispatch of a business concerning the
House of Office, etc., whilst your antago-
nist Shall PUT THE CHANGE UPON YOU.
1694. CONGREVE, Double Dealer, v.,
17. I have so contriv'd that Mellefont
will presently, in the chaplain's habit,
wait for Cynthia in your dressing-room ;
but I have PUT THE CHANGE UPON her,
that she may be otherwise employed.
1821. SCOTT, Keniliuorth, ch. iii.
You cannot PUT THE CHANGE ON me so
easy as you think, for I have lived among
the quick-stirring spirits of the age too
long to swallow chaff for grain.
TO RING THE CHANGES, phr.
(common). — To change a better
article for a worse. [An allusion
to bell-ringing where it signifies
to exhaust the combinations of a
peal of bells.] In its slang
sense TO RING THE CHANGES
chiefly refers to the passing of
counterfeit money. As thus : —
4 About five weeks ago, the
prisoner went into a tobacconist's
shop in Cheapside, and pur-
chased a cheroot, tendering a
sovereign in payment. The
prosecutor, Mr. Elkin, gave him
the change, half-a-sovereign and
95. 6d. silver. The prisoner
said he did not want to distress
him by taking away all his silver,
and asked for another half
sovereign. The prosecutor put
down half-a-sovereign, which
the prisoner took up, and the
latter then said that if he re-
turned the sovereign, he would
give him back the change, and
the prosecutor, taken off his
guard, did so, and received the
first half sovereign and the
95. 6d. in silver, the prisoner
walking out of the shop with the
second half sovereign.'
1661. Hist. ofEng . Rebellion in Harl.
Misc. (ed. Park), II., 528. Five months
ago, our mighty States Were pleas'd to
vote No King ; But two months since, to
act new cheats, Their votes the CHANGES
RING.
1760. SMOLLETT, SirL. Graves, vol.
I., ch. x. Hugging in and RINGING OUT
THE CHANGES on the balance of power,
the Protestant religion, and your allies on
the Continent.
1828. JON. BEE, Picture of London,
p. 232. He found one piece [of muslin]
that was indeed real India, bargained for
and bought it, amidst continued attempts to
shuffle it between others, for the purpose
of RINGING THE CHANGES, as they term
the nefarious act.
1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude,
ch. iii., p. 234. Nothing easier than for
some man to have slipped out of bed,
night or day, and RUNG THE CHANGES
of the bottles.
1880. HAWLEY SMART, Social Sin-
ners, ch. xli. The culprit had been guilty
of RINGING THE CHANGES or other petty
larceny.
TO TAKE THE CHANGE OUT
OF [a person or thing], fhr.
(common). — To be revenged
upon ; to take an equivalent, or
quid pro quo. Frequently used
inierjectionally — TAKE YOUR
CHANGE OUT OF THAT ! With
a blow or other rejoinder. An
analogous expression is PUT
THAT IN YOUR PIPE AND SMOKE
IT !
1829. JOHN WILSON, Noctes Ami'.,
wks. II., 174. Shepherd (flinging a purse
of gold on the table). It'll require a gey
strang thaw to melt that, chiels ; sae TAK
YOUR CHANGE OUT O* THAT, 3S Joseph
[Hume] says, either in champagne, or
jile .... just whatsumever you like to
devour best.
1838. HALIBURTON, Clockmaker, 2
S., ch. viii. 'Thinks I to myself, TAKR
YOUR CHANGE ^OUT o' THAT, young man,
will you?'
1854. WHYTE MELVILLE, General
Bounce, ch. xi. If his ammunition be
1
Change-Bags.
Chanter.
exhausted he betakes himself to the
bayonet, and swears ' the beggars may
TAKE THEIR CHANGE OUT OF THAT.
1861. H. KINGSLEY, Ravenshoe, ch.
xlvi. Turn Lady Ascot once fairly to
bay, you would (if you can forgive slang)
GET VERY LITTLE CHANGE OUT OF HER.
1863. H. KINGSLEY, Austin Elliott,
I., 185. Cabman, log: ' I never said no-
think to you, but without provocation
you tell me to go to Putney. Now, I
tell you what it is, I 'm blessed if I don 't
go, and you may TAKE YOUR CHANGE
OUT OF THAT!' And go he did. \Cf.,
'Go TO PUTNEY' (q.v.).}
QUICK CHANGE ARTISTE. Sllbs.
(music hall).— A performer, male
or female, who sings one song in
one costume, retires for a few
seconds and returns to sing
another in another guise, and so
CHANGE-BAGS, subs. (Eton).—
Grey flannel trousers for cricket,
and knickerbockers for football.
CHANGE ONE'S NOTE or TUNE,
verbal phr. (colloquial). — To
pass from laughter to tears, or from
arrogance to humility; to alter
one's mode ot speech, behaviour,
etc. Cf. , CHANGE YOUR BREATH
(q.v. under BREATH).
1578. Scot. Poems, i6th c. (1808), II.
185. Priestes CHANGE YOUR TUNE. [M.]
1708. MOTTEUX, Rabelais, V., ix.
I'll make him CHANGE HIS NOTE presently.
CHANGE YOUR BREATH.— See
BREATH.
CHANT or CHAUNT, subs. (old). —
I. See quots.
1812. J. H. VAUX, Flash Dictionary.
CHAUNT: a song . . . To throw off a rum
CHAUNT is to sing a good song.
1882. Daily Telegraph, 19 Oct., p 5,
col. 2. To troll his jovial CHAUNTS . . .
in a tavern-parlour. [M.]
2. (old). —See quots.
1812. J. H. VAUX, Flash Diet.
CHAUNT : (a person's) name, address, or
designation ; . . . a cipher, initials, or
mark of any kind, on a piece of plate,
iinen, or other article ; anything so marked
is said to be CHANTED ... an adver-
tisement in a newspaper or handbill, etc.
1824. Compl. Hist. Murder Mr.
Weare. 258. ' We may as well look and
see if ther?. is any CHAUNT about the
money' — and they examined the four
notes, but there were no marks upon
rtiem. [M.]
Verb (old). — i. To talk ;
sing ; relate the praises of ; to
' cry ' or ' crack up. * Street pat-
terers and vendors CHANT their
songs and wares, oftentimes to an
extent not warranted by their
quality : hence sense 2. An
equivalent amongst French thieves
is pousser la goualante.
1851. MAYHEW, London Labour and
London Poor, I., p. 240. A running
patterer . . . who also occasionally
CHAUNTS.
2. (common). — To sell a horse
by fraudulent representations.
[Apparently an extended usage of
sense I — 'to cry ' or ' crack up.']
Fr. , enrosser — to dissemble a
horse's faults.
1816. Sporting Mag azine,vo\. XLIX.,
p. 305. A number of frauds have been
practised lately in the disposal of horses
... by a gang of ... swindlers, who
technically call it CHAUNTING horses.
182o. English Spy, vol. I., pp. 199,
200. Here a church militant is seen
Who'd rather fight than preach, I ween,
Once major now a parson ; With one leg
in the grave he'll laugh, CHANT up a
prad, or quaintly chaff To keep life's
pleasant farce on.
1860. THACKERAY, Philip* ch. xx.
You may as well say that horses are sold
in heaven, which, as you know, are
groomed, are doctored, are CHANTED on
to the market, and warranted by dexterous
horse-vendors as possessing every quality
of blood, pace, temper, age.
CHANTER (generally HORSE-CHAN-
TER), subs, (common). — I. A
horse -jdealer who disposes of
Chantey.
73
Chanting.
horses by means of fradulent
representations.
1821. W T. MONCRIEFF, Tom and
Jerry, Act. i., Sc. 6. Grooms, Jockies,
and CHAUNTERS, to Tattersall's bring.
1836. DICKENS, Pickwick, xlii., 365.
' He was a HORSE-CHAUNTER : he's a leg
now.'
1845. W. M. THACKERAY, Miscel-
lanies, !!.(' Leg. of the Rhine'), p. 88. He
is a cogger of dice, a CHANTER of horse-
flesh.
1857. DICKENS, Dorrit, bk. I., ch.
xii., 88. The Plaintiff was a CHAUNTER
— meaning, not a singer of anthems, but
a seller oi horses.
1884. Daily News, August 23, p. 5,
col. i. It is for the CHANTER and his
attendant bonnet, who officiates as groom,
to place the stock.
1890. W. E. HENLEY. Views and
Reviews, p. 137. An apple woman to
mystify, a horse-CHANTER to swindle, a
pugilist to study, etc., etc.
2. (vagrants'). — A street pat-
terer. More commonly spelt
CHAUNTER (q.V.).
3. (Scots), — The penis.
CHANTEY or SHANTY, subs, (nauti-
cal).— A song sung by sailors at
their work. — See CHANTEY-MAN.
[Obviously a diminutive of
CHANT, a song.]
1869. Chambers' Journal, n Dec.,
pp. 794-6. [Article on ' Sailors' SHANTIES
and Sea-Songs.']
1883. W. CLARK RUSSELL, Sailors'
Language, preface, xi. But the lack of
variety is no obstruction to the sailor's
poetical inspiration when he wants the
' old man ' to know his private opinions
without expressing them to his face, and
so the same CHANTEY, as the windlass or
halliard chorus is called, furnishes the
music to as many various indignant re-
monstrances as Jack can find injuries to
sing about.
1884. W. C. RUSSELL, Jack's Court-
ship, ch. iii. ' Then give us one of the
old CHANTEYS,' exclaimed my uncle.
'Haul the Bowline,' or 'Whiskey,
Johnny.'
CHANTEY-MAN, subs, (nautical). —
A singer of CHANTLYS (q.v.).
1887. Saturday Review, 27 August.
A shanty, or, as pedants call it, 'chanty,'
is a song sung by sailors at their work.
The music is 'to a certain extent
traditional, ' the words — which are
commonly unfit for ears polite— are
traditional likewise. The words and
music are divided into two parts — the
' shanty ' proper, which is delivered by a
single voice, with or without a fiddle
obligato, and the refrain and chorus,
which are sung with much straining and
tugging, and with peculiar breaks and
strange and melancholy stresses, by a
number of men engaged in the actual
performance of some piece of bodily labour.
The manner is this. We will suppose for
instance, that what is wanted is an anchor
song. The fugleman takes his stand,
fiddle in hand, and strikes up the melody
of ' Away Down Rio." Then, everything
being ready, he pipes out a single line of
the song, and the working party, with a
strong pull at the capstan-bars, answers
with a long-drawn ''Away Down Rio.
He sings a second verse, and this is
followed by the full strength of the
chorus. . . . And so on, through
stave after stave, till the anchor's
weighed, and, the work being done, the
need for song is gone by.
1890. W. E, HENLEY. Views and
Reviews, p. 153. He goes down to the
docks and loiters among the galiots and
brigantines ; he hears the melancholy
song of the CHANTEY-MAN.
CHANTIE, subs. (Scots). — A
chamber - pot. For synonyms,
see IT.
CHANTiNG(more commonly HORSE-
CHANTING), verbal subs, (com-
mon).— i. Tricking into the
purchase of unsound or vicious
horses.
1825. English Spy, vol. I., pp. 199,
200. The servant was a confederate, and
the whole affair nothing more than a true
orthodox farce of HORSE-CHAUNTING got
up for the express purpose of raising a
temporary supply.
1870-2. Gallery of Comicalities. If
I have got an -'orse to sell, You'll never
find that Dick is wanting ; There's few
that try it on so well, Or beat me at a bit
Of CHAUNT1NG.
Chapel of Ease.
Chariot
2. (vagrants'). — Street ballad-
singing.
1851. MAYHEW, London Labour and
London Poor, I., p. 297. There is a class
of ballads, which may with perfect pro-
priety be called street ballads, as they are
written by street authors for street singing
(or CHAUNTING) and street sale.
1883. Daily Telegraph, Feb, 8, p. 3,
col. i. '.The bitterest sort of weather is
their [cadgers'] weather, and it doesn't
matter if it's house - to - house work or
CHANTING, or mud-plunging, it's cold
work.'
CHAPEL or CHAPEL OF EASE, subs.
(common). — A water-closet. For
synonyms, see BURY A QUAKER
and MRS. JONES.
CHAPEL OF LITTLE EASE, subs.
phr. (thieves') — The police sta-
tion or cells.
1871. Daily Telegraph, 27 Jan. [See
short leader ; also 25 Jan.]
1889. Answers, 9 Feb. A fourth
kind of torture was a cell called LITTLE
EASE. It was of so small dimensions, and
so constructed, that the prisoner could
neither stand, walk, sit, nor lie in it at full
length. He was compelled to draw him-
self up in a squatting posture, and so
remain during several days.
CHAPPED or CHAPT,///- a(lj- (old).
— Parched ; ' dry ' ; thirsty.
[From CHAP, to crack (as the
lips) from want of moisture, +
ED.]
1673. R. HEAD, Canting Acad., 37.
CHAP'D, Dry, or Thirsty.
1725. New Canting- Dictionary, s.v.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue.
CHAPT : dry or thirsty.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
CHAPPIE or CHAPPY, subs.
(familiar). — The latest (1890)
variety of man about town ; a
term of intimacy. [From CHAP,
a chum, + IE, a diminutive.]
For synonyms, see DANDY.
1882. Punch, vol. LXXXII., p. 69,
col. i. I'll sing you a fine new song, all
about a fine young spark, Who's a fine
young London gentleman, quite up to ?ny
lark, Who takes supper very early, and
breakfasts in the dark ; Who's a real 'dear
old CHAPPIE,' as I needn't perhaps remark.
1883. G. A. S[ALA], in Illustr. Lon-
don News, March 24, p. 290, col. i. Lord
Boodle, a rapid CHAPPIE always ready to
bet on everything with anybody.
CHARACTER, subs, (colloquial). —
A man or woman exhibiting some
prominent (and usually contemp-
tible) trait ; an eccentric ; a CASE
(g.v. ). Generally used with such
adjectives as 'low,' 'queer,'
'comic,' etc. — [From CHARACTER
= a personage in history or fiction :
one who has distinguished him-
or herself. ] For* synonyms, see
ODD FISH.
1773. GOLDSMITH, She Stoops to
Conquer, II., i. A very impudent fellow
this ! but he's a CHARACTER, and ^I'll
humour him.
1820-33. C. LAMB, Essays of Elia,
p. 163. You are fond of having a CHAR-
ACTER at your table, and truly he is one.
CHARACTERED, ppl. adj. (old).—
Burnt on the hand ; otherwise
LETTERED (q.v.). [From the
legitimate meaning of the word, =
' marked or inscribed with char-
acters.']
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. T.t s.v.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. They
have palmed the CHARACTER upon him.
CHARING-CROSS, subs, (rhyming
slang). — A horse. For syno-
nyms, see PRAD.
CHARIOT, subs, (thieves'). — An
omnibus. In the sixteenth cen-
tury CHARIOT = a vehicle of
any kind, and in the eighteenth
a light four-wheeled carriage.
French thieves call an omnibus
une onmicroche, or un four banaf,
which last = also a pocket or
'cly.'
Chariot-Buzzing. 75
Charley.
CHARIOT-BUZZING, subs, (thieves').
— Picking pockets in an omni-
bus. [From CHARIOT (q.v.), an
omnibus, + BUZ, verb 2 (q.v.), to
pick pockets, + ING.] French
z'rtf Fomnicroche.
CHARLES, His FRIEND, subs.
(theatrical). — See FRIEND.
CHARLEY or CHARLIE, subs. (old).
— i. A night watchman, A popu-
lar name, prior to the introduction
by Sir R. Peel, in 1829, of the
present police force ; since when
it has fallen into desuetude. The
CHARLIES were generally old
men whose chief duty was crying
the hour on their rounds. Box-
ing a CHARLEY was a favourite
amusement with young bucks
and bloods, who, when they
found a night-watchman asleep
in his box, would overturn it,
leaving the occupant to escape
as best he might. [The origin of
the term is uncertain. Some
trace it to Charles I., who re-
organised the watch system of
the metropolis in 1640. If this
be tenable it is curious that so
long a period elapsed between
the event and its recognition in
slang. The earliest appears to
be that given infra. For syno-
nyms, see BEAK and COPPER.
1812. J. H. VAUX, Flash Dictionary.
CHARLEY : a watchman.
1823. CHARLES WESTMACOTT, Points
of Misery, p. 28. A regular chase between
me and the CHARLEYS all the way to I .ad
Lane.
1845. HOOD, Tale of a Trumpet,
st. 55. That other old woman, the parish
CHARLEY !
1852. Bentley's Miscellany, i June,
p 620. Oh, those dear old CHARLIES of
the Dogberry school ! How their husky
cries of the passing hour mingled with
our dreams, letting us know that they
were at least wide awake to the thievings
of time !
1865. G. F. BERKELEY, My Life, etc.,
I., 106. The night's entertainment ending
in the morning before a magistrate, when
the roughly used CHARLEYS, as the night-
policemen were called, preferred charges
of assault supported by black eyes and a
few loose teeth caiefully preserved for
the purpose, and the offenders thought
themselves lucky if they got off with only
a moderate fine. \Tentp. George IV. 1
1889. Daily News, Sep. 28, p. 2, col.
5. THE LAST OF THE CHARLEYS. In the
person of Mr. William Mason, who died
on Wednesday at the age of 89, we lose
the last survivor of the CHARLEYS who
used to patrol the streets prior to the
establishment in 1849 of the City Police
Force.
2. (common). — A small, pointed
beard, fashionable in the time of
Charles I. ; an 'imperial'; in
America a GOATEE (q.v. for syno-
nyms).
1824. Gentleman's Magazine, March
i, p. 295, col. 2. With white pantaloons,
watch chains, and Wellingtons, and a
CHARLEY at their under lip.
1841. HOOK, Widow, x., 145. He
. . . wore ... a CHARLEY on his under
lip.
1861. TAYLOR, Antiq. Falkland, 43.
That square, short man . . . wearing a
moustache and CHARLIE is William
Laud.
18(?). R. M. JEPHSON, Girl He Left
Behind Him, ch. i. Dolly himself was
occupied in nursing a tuft of hair on his
chin termed, grandiloquently, an imperial,
familiarly, a CHARLEY.
3. (hunting). — A fox. Four-
besque, graniera.
1857. HUGHES, Tom Browns School-
days, ch. i., p. 8. A nice little gorse or
spinney where abideth poor CHARLEY,
having no other cover to which to betake
himself for miles and miles, when pushed
out some fine November morning by the
old Berkshire.
1859. H. KINGSLEY, Geoffrey Ham
lyn, ch. xxviii. 'And all after a poor little
fox ! ' ' You don't know CHARLEY, I can
see,' said Halbert ; ' poor little fox indeed !
4. (American thieves'). — A
watch. [Possibly a pun upon
CHARLEY, sense i, a watch or
Charley Bates Farm. 76 Charter the Bar.
watchman.] For synonyms, see
TICKER.
5. (tailors'). — The nap on
faced on glossy-surfaced cloth.
6. (tailors'). — A round-
shouldered figure.
CHARLEY BATES' FARM, or
GARDEN. — See BATES' FARM.
CHARLEY-LANCASTER, subs, (rhym-
ing slang). — A ' handkercher. '
CHARLEY- PITCHER, subs, (thieves').
— A prowling sharper who en-
tices greenhorns to take a hand
in thimble-rigging, the three-
card trick, prick the garter, etc.
1859. G. A. SALA, Twice Round the
Clock (2 p m., par. 10), p. 160. Even at
remote country race-courses, you may find
remnants of the whilom swarming tribe
of CHARLEY-PITCHERS, the knavish gentry
who pursue the games of ' under seven or
over seven,' . . , or inveigle the unwary
with ' three little thimbles and one small
pea.'
1^51-61. H. MAYHEW, Lon. Lab. and
Lot. Poor, IV., 32, note. A CHARLEY-
PITCHER seems to be one who pitches to
the Ceorla or countryman, and hence is
equivalent to the term Yokel-hunter.
1877. BESANT AND RICE, Son of
Vulcan, pt. I., ch. ix. With them marched
the CHARLEY-PITCHERS, who gained an
honourable livelihood with the thimble
and the pea.
CHARLEY- PR ESCOT, subs, (rhym-
ing slang). — A waistcoat. For
synonyms, see FAN.
CHARLEY-WAG. To PLAY THE
CHARLEY-WAG (school-slang). — •
I. To absent oneself from school
without leave ; to play truant.
Variants are To MOUCH ; TO
WAG ; Fr., tailler or caler lecole ;
Spanish, hacer novillos, and andar
a la tuna.
1876. C. HINDLEY, Life and Adven-
tures of a Cheaj> Jack, p. 57. Nothing
could be done with him at school . . .
Joe being, in spite of all entreaties, the
greatest rapscallion and ringleader of all
mischief, and at all times readier TO
PLAY THE CHARLEY WAG than to be the
first in any prominent position in his
class or form.
2. (common). — To disappear
[figurative].
1887. W. E. HENLEY, Villon s
Straight Tip to all Cross Coves. It's up
the spout and CHARLEY-WAG With wipes
and tickers and what not. Until the
squeezer nips your scrag, Booze and the
blowens cop the lot.
CHARLIE, — See CHARLEY.
CHARLIES, subs, (popular). — i.
The paps. For synonyms, see
DAIRY.
2. (Winchester College). —
Thick gloves made of twine.
[Introduced by a Mr. Charles
Griffith ; hence the name.] Ob-
solete.
CHARM, subs, (old).— i. A pick-
lock.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
s.v.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
1381. New York Slang- Diet., s.v.
CHARMS, subs, (old), — The paps.
Fr., les appas. Once in literary
use, but now impossible except as
slang. FLASHING HER CHARMS
= showing her paps.
2. (American). — A generic
term for money. For synonyms,
see ACTUAL and GILT.
1875. American English, in Chant.
Journal, 25 Sept., p. 610. Money has
forty or fifty different names ; such singu-
lar terms as ... shadscales, and CHARMSJ
figuring in the list.
CHARTER THE BAR or GROCERY,
verbal phr. (American). — To buy
up the whole of the liquor at a
bar and stand drinks all round as
Chasing.
77
Chates.
long as it lasts. This freak is not
infrequent in the West. In
Australia a similar expression
is SHOUTING ONESELF HOARSE.
18(?). J. G. BALDWIN, David Bolus,
Esq. Bolus was no niggard. He would
as soon treat a regiment, or CHARTER
THE GROCERY for the day, as any other
way.
CHASING, verbal subs, (workmens').
See quot.
1884. RAE, Cont. Socialism, 361.
This is shown ... in their prohibition
of CHASING . . . i.e., of a workman ex-
ceeding a given average standard of pro-
duction. [M.]
CHASSE, verb (society)* — To dis-
miss. [From the French chasser.~\
1847. THACKERAY, Lords and Liv.,
III. He was CHASSED on the spot. [M.]
1868. YATES, Rock Ahead, I., p. 185.
If Lord Ticehurst married, more than half
Gilbert Lloyd's influence would be gone,
if indeed the turf were not abandoned,
and the confederate CHASSED.
CHAT, subs, (thieves').— i. A house.
For synonyms, see DIGGINGS.
1879. J. W. HORSLEY, in Macm.
Mag., XL., 501. I piped a slavey (ser-
vant) come out of a CHAT (house).
2. (common). — The female
ptidendurn. (From French chat,
a cat, and by implication the
* pussy,']
3. (common). — The truth ; the
real state of a case ; the proper
words to use ; the ' correct card. '
1819. THOMAS MOORE, Tom Crib's
Memorial to Congress, p. 6. And, setting
in case there should come such a rumpus,
As some mode of settling the CHAT we
must compass, With which the tag-rag
will have nothing to do, What think you,
great swells, of a royal set-to?
1862. TROLLOPE, Orley Farm, ch.
yi. Has the gentleman any right to be
in this room at all, or has he not ? Is
he commercial, or is he— miscellaneous?
That's the CHAT as I take it.
4. (low). — Gabble ; chatter ;
impudence ; e.g., None of your
CHAT, or I'll give you a shove in
the eye.
Verb. — To hang. — See CHATES,
sense I. [This reading, however,
is problematical.]
1513. G. DOUGLAS, sEneis, viii., Prol.
126. Quod. I, churle, ga CHAT the, and
chide with ane vthir.
CHATES, subs. (old). — i. The gal-
lows, (Also CHATTES and
CHATS. ) [Doubtful as to deriva-
tion, see quot. 1610.] For
synonyms, see NUBBING-CHEAT.
1567. HARMAN, Caveat (1814), p. 66.
CHATTES : the gallowes.
1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all,
p. 37. (H. Club's Repr., 1874). CHATES,
the Gallowes : here he [Harman, author of
a Caveat for Cursitors-date, c. 1570, re-
printed as The Belman of London, con-
taining list of cant words] mistakes both
the simple Word, because he so found it
printed, not knowing the true originall
thereof, and also in the compound ; as
for CHATES it should be Cheates, which
word is vsed generally for things, as Tip
me that Cheate, Give me that thing : so
that if you will make a word for the
Callous, you must put thereto this word,
Treyning, which signifies hanging ; and
so Treyning Cheate is as much to say,
hanging things, or the Callous, and not
CHATES.
1671. R. HEAD, English Rogue^ pt.
I., ch. v., p. 48 (1874). CHATS : the
gallows.
1690, B. E. Diet. Cant. Crew, s<v.
1706. E. COLES, Eng. Diet., s.v.
1725. New Cant. Diet., s.v.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s,v.
1881. New York Slang Dict.< s.v.
2. (old).— Lice. (Also CHATS
and CHATTS.) [Grose suggests
that CHATTS is an abbreviation
of chattels in the sense of cattle
— lice being the chief live-stock
of beggars, gipsies, and the rest
of the canting crew ; the his-
C/iates.
Chatter-Basket.
tory of the word ' chattel ' ap-
pears to bear out his contention.
The Norman catel passed later
into cattell) and these forms were
in the sixteenth century restricted
to live-stock, chat tell passing
from legal French into general
use for the wider sense — article of
property.]
1690. B. E., Diet. Cant. Creiv, s.v.
1725. New Cant. Diet., s.v.
1812. J. H. VAUX, Flash Diet., s.v.
1864. HOTTEN, Slang Diet., s.v.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Active
citizens ; crabs ; crumbs ; friends
in need ; back friends ; grey
backs ; black cattle ; Scots Greys ;
gentleman's companions ; creep-
ers ; gold -backed 'uns ; German
ducks ; dicky-birds ; familiars ;
saddle-backs ; Yorkshire Greys.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Les es-
pagnols (popular : formerly lice
were called 'Spanish bugs,'j&w;c
espagnols, to distinguish them
from the cintex lectuarins, or
common bed bug) ; un cojuillon
(popular : also ' a pilgrim ') ; les
goux (thieves') ; le garni > on
(pop. = garrison) ; un loupate
( = poux, disguised) ; un habitant
( = a householder or ' citizen ') ;
un grenadier (popular) ; un got
(thieves') ; un mousquetaire gris
(pop. =a grey musketeer).
GERMAN SYNONYMS. Hutte-
rerg selfn (perhaps the nearest
German equivalent to the English
'gentleman's companion,' the
German word signifying ' skin-
society ') ; Jokel) or Jokelche, Jo-
kelcher, Juckel, fucktler (sing. :
also = a postillion, ' one who
rides,' the latter, however, being
more commonly rendered Post-
Juckel. Ave-Lallement derives it
from fcickel or Jockel, diminutives
of Jacob, but there are the
German words, Jucken, ' to itch,'
and Juckler^ 'one who itches.'
It is quite possible that the two
last are later, historically. In
connection, see next example) ;
Hans Walter (in Luther's Liber
Vagatotum [1529]. Hanz liter-
ally means Jack, or John [Cf.,
preceding /okel~\, the old word
Hansa refers to a multitude ; old
German Uanse, a society ; Hans,
a companion); ICinne,t>l. Kinnim
(of purely Hebrew origin; Kinni-
machler—-^. 'dirty, filthy fellow,'
or ' an avaricious man,' literally
' a lice-eater ' ; Kinn inter ^ a man
full of lice. The Fieselsprache has
Kineh and Kinehbruder to signify
' an intimate companion,' or
' chum ' ; Marschirer or die Mitten
Maischirer (Viennese thieves' for
lice ; literally ' the silent walkers');
Sand (used for vermin in general
and lice in particular ; sandig
sein, to be lousy).
ITALIAN SYNONYMS. Grisaldi;
grisa^lti ; guallino.
SPANISH SYNONYM. Cancano,
(w ; a low term).
CHAT- HOLE, subs, (prison). — A hole
made by convicts in a wall,
to carry on a conversation.
[From CHAT, an abbreviation of
chatter, + HOLE.]
CHATS, suds. (old). — i.
2. (thieves'). — See quot.
1821. D. HAGGART, L,ife, Glossary, p.
171. CHATS, seals.
3. (Stock Exchange). — Lon-
don, Chatham and Dover Railway
Stock.
CHATTER- BASKET, subs, (common).
— A prattling child. Originally
Chatterboncs.
79
Chainit.
dialectical, CHATTER - BASKET
being the Lancashire form ; while
in West Somerset they say CHAT-
TER-BAG. C/., CHATTERBOX.
CHATTER-BONES, CHATTER-CART,
and CHATTER-BLADDER, subs.
(common). — Variants ofcHATTER-
BOX (q.v). For synonyms, see
CLACK-BOX.
1842. DICKENS, A nterican Notes, ch.
xi., p. 94. That little girl of fifteen with
the loquacious chin : who, to do her
justice, acts up to it . . . for of all the
small CHATTERBONES that ever invaded
the repose of drowsy ladies' cabin, she is
the first and foremost.
CHATTERBOX, subs, (colloquial). —
An incessant talker ; used con-
temptuously of adults and play-
fully of children. [From CHAT-
TER, gabble + BOX, a receptacle;
metaphorically, abox full of chatter
Cf., BAG OF BONES.] A variant
is CHATTERBONES (q.v.). For
synonyms, see CLACK-BOX.
1785. GROSE, Dictionary of the Vul-
gar Tongue. CHATTER Box, one whose
tongue runs twelve score to the dozen ; a
chattering man or woman.
1840. C. DICKENS, Old Curiosity
Shop [C. D. ed.], p. 93. A set of idle
CHATTERBOXES.
1878. E. JENKINS, Haverholme, p. 52.
A mere political CHATTERBOX.
CHATTER-BROTH, su&s.(old). — Tea;
the beverage and the party. A
Yorkshire equivalent is CHATTER-
WATER. Quoted by Grose [ 1 785].
Variants are CAT-LAP and SCAN-
DAL-BROTH (q.v.).
CHATTERER, subs, (pugilistic). — A
heavy blow upon the mouth : or,
says Peter Corcoran, ' a blow that
tells.' For synonyms see DIG.
1827. REYNOLDS (' Peter Corcoran '),
Sonnet on The fancy. I've left the Fives-
Court rush, — the flash — the rally The
noise of ' Go it, Jack ' — the stop — the
blow — The shout — the CHATTERING hit —
the check — the sally.
CHATTERERS, subs, (common). —
The teeth. For synonyms, see
GRINDERS.
CHATTERY, subs, (thieves'). — See
quot.
1821. D. HAGGART, Life, Glossary,
p. 171. CHATTERY, cotion, or linen
goods.
CHATTY, subs. (old). — A filthy man.
[From CHAT (q.v.), a louse, +Y.]
English variants are CHATTY-
DOSSER, CRUMMY - DOSSER.
Amongst French equivalents may
be mentioned un bifteck a maqu-
art (Maquart is the name of a
well-known knacker) ; un sale
p&tissier (literally a dirty pastry-
cook) ; un kroumir / un %o>'gniat ;
un pe gorier.
Adj. (common). — Filthy; lousy.
[For derivation, see subs.~\ A
French equivalent is graphique
— itself a very 'telling,' 'speak-
ing,' or ' chatty ' expression ; also
malastique.
1812. J. H. VAUX, Flash Dictionary.
CHATTY : lousy.
CHATTY- FEEDER, subs. (old). — A
spoon. [A vague reference to
the mouth as the place of ' chat '
or ' chatter. '] For synonyms see
WEDGE-FEEDER.
1881. New York Slang Dictionary.
' And where the swag so bleakly pinched,
A hundred stretches hence ? . The
chips, the fawneys, CHATTY- FEEDERS.
CHAD NT, sztbs. (old). — A song. — •
See CHANT, subs., sense i.
Verb (vagrants'). — To sing bal-
lads, etc., in the streets. — See
CHANT, verb, sense i.
To CHAUNT THE PLAY, verbal
phr. (thieves'). — To explain the
tricks and manoeuvres of thieves.
Chaunted.
80
Chaw.
CHAUNTED, ppl. adj. (streets').—
Sung of, and celebrated, in street
ballads. [From CHAUNT, to sing
street ballads, +ED.] — See CHANT-
ING, subs., sense 2.
1827. REYNOLDS (' Peter Corcoran').
Lines to Philip Samson in The Fancy.
' Be content that you've beat Dolly Smith,
and been CHAUNTED, And trained —
stripped — and petted, and hit off ycur
legs ! '
CHAUNTER, suds, (vagrants'). — i.
A street singer of ballads, dying
speeches, etc. Rarely heard now
except in the poorest neighbour-
hoods. His practice is peculiar.
One man gets as far as he can,
and when his voice cracks his
companion takes things up. For
this reason the business is con-
ducted by a brace of men, by a
man and woman, or by a woman
andchild. — See quot. 1851. [From
CHAUNT, tO Sing, + ER.] Also
called a PAPER-WORKER (q.v.) ;
and DEATH - HUNTER (q.v.}.
FRENCH SYNONYMS are un chan-
teur a la balade or au baladage ;
un goualeur or une goualeuse (see
EUGENE SUE Mysteresde Paris}-,
une cigale (popular: a female
street-singer); and un braillard*
Fourbesque, granchetto (a term
also applied to one who speaks
gibberish or thieves' lingo).
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 229. The
CHAUNTERS, or those who do not cry, but
(if one may so far stretch the English
language) sing the contents of the 'papers'
they vend. Ibid, p. 240. The running
patterer ... is accompanied generally by
a CHAUNTER . . . The CHAUNTER not
only sings, but fiddles.
2. (common), — See CHANTER,
sense I.
CHAUNTER-COVE, subs, (thieves').
— A reporter. [From CHAUNT,
to ' crack ' or ' cry up,' + ER +
COVE, a man.]
CHAUNTER-CULL, subs. (old). — A
writer of ballads and street
literature for the use of CHAUNT-
ERS or ' street patterers.' They
haunted certain well-known pub-
lic-houses in London and Bir-
mingham, and were open to write
ballads ' to order ' on any sub-
ject, the rate of remuneration
varying from half-a-crown to
seven-and-sixpence. The chaunter
having practically disappeared,
his poet has gone with him.
1781. G. PARKER, View of Society,
Hi, 58. [Named and described in.]
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue.
CHAUNTER-CULLS : Grub Street writers,
who compose songs, carrols, etc., for
ballad singers.
1834. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood,
bk. IV., ch. vi. I trust, whenever the
CHANTER-CULLS and last-speech scribblers
get hold of me, they'll at least put no
cursed nonsense into my mouth.
CHAUNTER UPON THE LEER, phr.
(old). — An advertiser.
CHAUNTING. — See CHANTING.
CHAUVERING DONNA or MOLL,
subs. (old). — A prostitute.
[From CHAUVERING, sexual
intercourse. + DONNA (q.v.), a
woman, or MOLL (q.v.), a loose
female.] For synonyms, see
BARRACK-HACK.
CHAW, subs, (common). — I. A
countryman ; a yokel ; a bump-
kin. [A contraction of CHAW-
BACON (q.v.). In common use
at Harrow School.]
1856. T. HUGHES, Tom Browns
School-days, pt. I., ch. i. There's nothing
like the old country-side for me, and no
music like the twang of the real old Saxon
tongue, as one gets it fresh from the veri-
table CHAW in the White Horse Vale.
2. (vulgar). — A mouthful ; a
' gobbet ' ; in the mouth at once ;
Chaw.
Si
Cheap.
e.g., a quid of tobacco ; a dram of
spirits, etc. [From CHAW, verb,
q.v.]
1749. ' Humours of the Fleet,' quoted
in Ash ton's The Fleet, p. 286. And in
his nether jaw Was stuff 'd an elemosynary
CHAW.
1772. Gentleman* Magazine, XLII.,
IQI. The tars . . . Took their CHAWS,
hitched their trousers, and grinn'd in our
faces. [M.]
1833. MARRY AT, Peter Simple, xiv.
The boy was made to open his mouth,
while the CHAW of tobacco was extracted.
1838. GLASCOCK, Land Sharks and
Sea Gulls. If., 123. « I'm blest if I'm fit
for work, thout a raw CHAW.'
1864. Daily Telegraph, 26 July. The
gentleman have often ' that within that
passeth show,' to wit, a CHAW of tobacco:
this is not very conducive to volubility in
conversation.
3. (University). — A trick ; de-
vice ; or ' sell.'
Verb (vulgar). — I. To eat or
chew noisily and roughly. To
bite (see quot., 1890). Once
literary ; now degenerate, and
vulgarly applied ; specifically ' to
chew tobacco.'
1890. T^e Oont, RUDYARD KIPLING
in Scots Observer, . . . We socks him
with a stretcher-pole, and 'eads him off in
front, And when we saves his bloomin"
life, he CHAWS our bloomin' arm.
2. (University). — To deceive,
trick, ' sell,' or impose upon one.
To CHAW OVER, verbal phr.
(common). — To create ridicule
by repeating one's words.
To CHAW wp,phr. (American).
—To get the better of; to de-
molish ; * do for '; smash or
finish. CHAWED TJP : utterly
done for.
1843. DICKENS, Martin Chuzzlewit,
ch. xvi., p. 162, ' Here's full particular?
of the patriotic loco-foco movement yester-
day, in which the Whigs was so CHAWED
UP.
18fi2. C. F. BROWNE, Artemus
Ward: His Book, p. 66. We CHAWED
'em UP, that's what we did.
To CHAW UP ONE'S WORDS,
phr. (American). — To retract an
assertion ; ' to eat one's words. '
CHAW-BACON, subs, (colloquial). —
A country bumpkin. [From
CHAW, a vulgar form of chew, to
masticate or chew, + BACON, the
staple food of agricultural labour-
ers.] Other nicknames for a coun-
tryman are bacon-slicer ; clod-
hopper ; barn-door savage ; clod-
pole ; cart - horse ; Johnny ;
cabbage -gelder ; turnip-sucker ;
joskin ; jolterhead ; yokel ; clod-
crusher, etc.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. CHAW
BACON. A countryman. A stupid fellow.
1822. Black-woods Magazine, XII.,
379. You live cheap with CHAW-BACONS
and see a fine, flat country. [M.]
1854. WHYTE MELVILLE, General
Bounce, ch. v. 'Give me the pail, you
lop-eared buffoon— do you call that the
way to feed a pig?' and the General,
seizing the bucket from an astonished
CHAW-BACON, who stood aghast, as if he
thought his master was mad, managed to
spill the greater part of the contents over
his own person and gaiters.
CHAWS, subs, (venery). — Copula-
tion. For synonyms, see GREENS.
CHEAP. ON THE CHEAP, adv. phr.
(colloquial). — At a low rate [of
money] \ economically ; keeping
up a showy appearance on small
means.
1884. Comhill Mag., June, p. 614.
His being's end and aim, both by day and
night, is to obtain as much drink as pos-
sible ON THE CHEAP.
CHEAP AND NASTY, adv. phr.
(colloquial). — Said of articles
which, though pleasing to the
eye, are 'shoddy' in fact. For
special application, see quot.
6
CJieapside.
82
CJiecks.
1864. Athenceum, Oct. 29. CHEAP
AND NASTY, or, in a local form, ' CHEAP
AND NASTY, LIKE SHORT'S IN THE
STRAND,' a proverb applied to the de-
ceased founder of cheap dinners.
To FEEL CHEAP, verb phr.
(common). — To 'have a mouth
on ; ' to be suffering from a night's
debauch.
DIRT CHEAP or DOG CHEAP,
adv. phr. (colloquial). — Inexpen-
sive ; as cheap as may be. DOG
CHEAP is the earliest form in
which this colloquialism ap-
pears in English literature, DIRT
CHEAP not being found earlier
than 1837.
1577. HOLINSHED, Chron. Descr. frel.,
iii. They afourded their wares so DOGGE
CHEAPE, that etc. [M.]
1837. C. DICKENS, Oliver Twist,
xxxvii. ' I sold myself,' said Mr. Bumble
. • . . ' I went very reasonable. Cheap,
DIRT CHEAP ! '
CHEAPSIDE. HE CAME HOME BY
WAY OF CHEAPSIDE,/^;. (old).,
— That is ' he gave little or
nothing for it ' ; ' he got it cheap. '
CHEAT, subs. (old). — A general
name for any object. [From
Anglo-Saxon ceat, a thing. Cf.^
quot., 1608.] A term which, with
a descriptive adjective, appears
in a variety of forms in
. Old Cant. The CHEAT par
excellence was the gallows, also
known as the NUBBING, TOPPING,
or TREYNING - CHEAT. The
word is variously spelt — CHET,
CHETE, CHEATE, CHEIT, CHATE.
CHEAT. The following combina-
tions will serve to illustrate its
• use.
BELLY-CHETE = An Apron.
BLETING-CHETE = A sheep or calf.
CACKLING-CHETE = A fowl.
CRASHING-CHEATS = The teeth.
GRUNTING-CHETE = A pig.
HEARING-CHETES = The ears.
Low'lNG-CHETE = A COW.
LULL A BY -CHETE = An infant.
MOFLING-CHETE = A napkin.
NUBBING-CHEAT = The gallows.
PRATTLING-CHETE = The tongue.
QUACKING-CHETE = A duck.
SMELLING-CHETE = The nose.
TOPPING-CHEAT = The gallows.
TREYNING-CHEAT = The gallows.
TRUNDLING-CHEAT = A cart or coach.
All of which see.
1567. HARMAN, Caveat [ed. 1869],
p. 86. Now we have well bous'd, let vs
strike some CHETE [that is], now we have
well dronke, let us steale some thinge.
3608. DEKKER, Belman of London,
in wks. (Grosart) III., 117. The Cheating
Law or the Art of winning money by
false dyce. Those that practise this
studie call themselues Cheaters, the dyce
Cheaters, and the money which they pur-
chase Cheates : borrowing the tearme from
our common Lawyers, with whome all
casuals as fall to the Lord at the holding
of his Leetes, as Waifes, Strayes, and such
like, are said to be Escheated to the Lord's
•vse, and are called Cheates.
1611. SHAKSPEARE, Winters Tale,
iv., 2, 28. With dye and drab, I purchas'd
this Caparison, and my Reuennew is the
silly CHEATE. Gallowes, and Knocke, are
too powerfull on the Highway.
1754. FIELDING, Jonathan Wild, bk.
IV., ch. ii. See what your laziness is
come to ; to the CHEAT, for thither will
you go now, that's infallible.
CHEATS, subs. (old). --Sham cuffs
or wristbands. C/., DICKY and
SHAMS. — See also quot., 1688.
1688. R. HOLME, Armoury, III., p.
96, col. i. A ... kind of Waistcoats are
called CHATES, because they are to be
seen rich and gaudy before, when all the
back part is no such thing. Ibid, III.,
p. 258, col. i. Such Gallants weare not
CHEATS or half Sleeves, but . . . their
Waistcoats are the same clear throughout.
[M.]
1690. B. E., Dictionary Canting
Crew. CHEATS . . . also Wristbands or
sham Sleeves worn for true, or whole ones.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vnlg. Tongue. ^
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. i
Sham sleeves to put over a dirty shift or
shirt.
CHECKS, subs. (American). — Money
in general ; cash. [A term de-
rived from poker, in which game
Cheek.
83
Cheek.
counters or CHECKS, bought at
certain fixed rates, are equivalent
to current coin.] For synonyms,
see ACTUAL and C/.t CHIPS.
TO PASS or HAND IN ONE'S
CHECKS, pkr. (American). — See
ante, To CASH (or PASS IN) ONE'S
CHECKS. To die. For syno-
nyms, see ALOFT and C/., CHIPS.
CHEEK, subs, (colloquial). — I. In-
solence; jaw; e.g., 'none of
your cheek ' or ' chat ' and ' none
of your jaw.' Equivalents are
LIP, CHAT, IMPERANCE, MOUTH,
CHIN, CHIRRUP, and NINE
SHILLINGS ; the last a corrup-
tion of * nonchalance ! ' Among
foreign equivalents may be
mentioned the French avoir
un toupet de bceuf ; and
the Spanish adjectives cari-
raido ( ' impudent ') and desol-
lado (from desollar, ' to skin,
flay ') ; desuellacaras (m ; an im-
pudent, shameless person) ; pap-
arrticha (f. impertinence).
1840. MARRYAT, Poor Jack, xxii.
The man, who was a sulky, saucy sort
of chap . . . gives CHEEK.
1848. J. MITCHELL, Jailjml., July
20. I once asked . . . what fault a man
had committed who was flogged. . ". .
1 For giving CHEEK, sir.' [M.]
1884. G. MOORE, Mummer's Wife
(1887), p. 133. If he gives me any of his
CHEEK I'll knock him down.
2. Audacity ; confidence ; im-
pudence ; ' brass ' ; ' face.' For-
merly ' brow ' was used in the
same sense. — (See quot., 1642.)
1642. FULLER, Holy State, bk. IV.,
ch. xi. They were men of more BROW
than brain, being so ambitious to be known,
that they had rather be hissed down than
not come upon the stage.
1851. MAYHEW, London Labour and
London Poor, I., p. 471. They [the
Crocusses] 'd actually have the CHEEK to
put a blister on a cork leg. Ibid, p. 404
per-
but
(provided with) a noggin o' rum to ' give
him CHEEK,' and make him speak up to
his victims.
1882. Daily News, Oct. 10, p. $, col.
6. Of this fact, I know no more signal
instance than the seizing of the Citadel
of Cairo. As I stood on the spot the
other day I realised for the first time the
— if you will pardon me the use of a vulgar
but expressive colloquialism — astounding
CHEEK of the feat.
1889. Answers, p. 59, col. 2. The
whole suggestion savoured so much of
what our Transatlantic brothers call
MONUMENTAL CHEEK, that the Duke
hardly knew what to say, or what emo-
tions to express.
1890. Athena-urn, Feb. 22, p. 253,
col. 2. In various disguises Miss Palmer
sings, dances, and exhibits her powers of
coquetry and CHEEK.
Verb. — To address a person
saucily.
1851. MAYHEW, London Labour and
London Poor, I., p. 452. (They)
suaded me to go and beg with them,
I couldn't CHEEK it.
1857. DICKENS, Our Vestry, in Re-
printed Pieces, p. 292. Dogginson . . .
informed another gentleman . . . that if
he CHEEK'D him he would resort to the
extreme measure of knocking his blessed
head off.
1890. Saturday Review, Feb. i, p.
151, col. i. Not only was Dick always
ready to CHEEK his employer, and by his
own account usually capable of getting the
better of him, but he was on the same sort
of terms with his pupils.
To ONE'S OWN CHEEK, phr.
(colloquial). — To one's own
share ; all to oneself. Some-
times used in the sense of allow-
ance, i.e., ' Where's my CHEEK ? '
1841. LEVER, Charles O'Malley, ch.
Ixxxviii. And though he consumed some-
thing like a prize on to HIS OWN CHEEK,
he at length had to call for cheese.
1855. Punch, vol. XXVIII., p. 10.
[From day to day, for near a week,] ' I
had a boiled salt round of beef On Monday
ALL TO MY OWN CHEEK Whereon my
hunger sought relief.'
To CHEEK UP, verbal phr. (col-
loquial).— = CHEEK, to answer
saucily.— See CHEEK, verb.
Cheek- A die.
84
Cheeky.
1867. North Briton, June 5. ' Royal
Dramatic College." We shall not soon
forget seeing, during our visit to the Fair
last July, a number of ladies dressed up
as jockeys, confined, like so many chat-
tering monkeys, in a cage, CHEEKING UP
to gentlemen, selling them ' k'rect cards,'
etc.
CHEEK -ACHE. To HAVE THE
CHEEK-ACHE, pht . (common). —
To be made to blush ; to be
abashed. [From CHEEK, the
face, + ACHE, a metaphorical
exaggeration of the pain of
blushing.]
CHEEKINESS, subs, (colloquial). ^-
Impudence ; effrontery ; cool
audacity.
1847. Illustrated London News, 28
Aug. p. 142, col. i. They were beat . . .
by their slow, loggy stroke, and by their
CHEEKINESS. [M.]
1854. MARTIN AND AYTOUN, Bon
Gualtier Ballads , ' Francesca da
Rimini.' There's wont to be at
conscious times like these. An
affectation of a bright-eyed ease, — A
crispy-CHEEKiNESS, if so I dare, Describe
the swaling of a jaunty air.
1857. A. TROLLOPE, Three Clerks,
ch. xliv. He lived but on the CHEEKI-
NESS of his gait and habits ; he had
become member of Parliament, Govern-
ment official, railway director, and club
aristocrat, merely by dint of cheek.
CHEEKISH, adj. (collpquial). —
Audacious ; impudent ; saucy.
[From CHEEK + ISH.]
1851. MAYHEW, London Labour and
London Poor, I., p. 248. Being CHEEKISH
(saucy) to the beadle.
CHEEKS, subs. (old). — i. Thepos?
teriors. For synonyms, see
BLIND-CHEEKS : to which may
be added toby ; stern ; catas-
trophe ; latter-end ; jacksy-pardo;
and juff.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulgar Tongue.
2. • (old). — An accomplice.
to
anst
1857. SNOWDEN, Mag. Assistant,
3 ed., p. 448. I have seen CHEEKS (a
flash name for an accomplice).
CHEEKS AND EARS. — A fantastic
name for a kind of head-dress,
of temporary fashion.
(?) Land. Prod., iv., 3, Suppl.
Sh., II., 511, Fr. O then thou c;
tell how to help me to CHEEKS AND EARS.
L. Yes, mistress, very well. Fl. S.
CHEEKS AND EARS ! why, mistress
Frances, want you CHEEKS AND EARS?
methinks you have very fair ones. Fi.
Thou art a fool indeed, Tom, thou
knowest what I mean. Civ. Ay, ay,
Kester; 'tis such as they wear a' their
heads.
CHEEKS THE MARINE, subs. phr.
(nautical). — Mr. Nobody. An
imaginary personage on board
ship created and popularised by
Captain Marryat. The epithet
has, likewise, passed into a by-
word as a sarcastic rejoinder to
a foolish or incredible story —
'tell that to CHEEKS THE
MARINE.'
1833. MARRYAT, Peter Simple (ed.
1846), vol. L, ch. vii., p. 36. I enquired
who, and he said CHEEKS THE MARINE.
1878-80. JUSTIN MCCARTHY, History
ofOurO-wn 7Yw<?.y,II.,ch.xiii.,p. 15(1848).
CHEEKS THE MARINE was a personage
very familiar at that time to the readers of
Captain Marryat's sea stories, and the
name of that mythical hero appeared with
bewildering iteration in the petition.
1883. CLARK RUSSELL, Sailors' Lan-
guage. CHEEKS THE MARINE : an imagi-
nary being in a man-of-war.
CHEEKY, adj. (colloquial). — Coolly
presumptuous ; impudent or
saucy. Fr,, insolpe.
1859. H. Y^wzsim, Geoffrey Hamlyn,
ch. xxyi. ' You will find, Sir,' said Lee,
' that these men in this here hut are a
rougher lot than you think for; very like
they'll be CHEEKY.'
1860. Punch, vol. XXXIX., p. 30.
' The Volunteer on July fourteenth.' But
that Ass SNIVENS — a coming it as CHEEKY
as could be. i
Cheese.
Cheese.
1889. Pall Mall Gaz., 8 Nov., p. 2,
col. 3. The CHEEKY boy, with the natural
ingratitude of youth, often makes a long
nose at his master, even when showing off
all that the master has taught him.
CHEESE. THE CHEESE, phr. (com-
mon).— i. Anything first-rate or
highly becoming ; the expression
runs up and down the whole
gamut of cheese nomenclature '
from THE STILTON, DOUBLE GLOS-
TER, tO THE PURE LlMBURGER.
[It has been variously traced to
the Anglo - Saxon ceosan, to
choose ; German, kiesen ; French,
chose ; Persian, chiz ; Hindu,
cheez, thing. Summing up the
evidence, the expression — (barring
a solitary reference in the London
Guide oi 1818, where it is referred
to a bald translation of c'est une
autre chose, i.e., that is another
CHEESE, subsequently coming
to signify that is the real thing)—
appears to have come into general
• vogue about 1840. This conten-
tion is borne out in some measure
by a correspondent to Notes and
Queries (1853, I S., viii.,
p. 89), who speaks of it as
about 'ten or twelve years old,'
a calculation which carries it back
to the date when it appears to
. have started in literature. Yule,
writingmuch later, says the expres-
sion was common among young
Anglo-Indians, e.g., 'my new
Arab is the real ckixj i.e., 'the
real thing,' a fact which points to
a Persian origin.] For synonyms,
see Ai.
1835. HALIBURTON ('Sam Slick'),
The Clockmaker, 3 S., ch. xiv. Whatever
is the go in Europe will soon be THE
CHEESE here.
1837. R. H. BARHAM, Ingoldsby
Legends, p. 418. Cries Rigmaree, rubbing
her hands, 'that will please — My " Con-
juring cap " — it's the thing ; — it's THE
CHEESE.'
1842. Punch, vol. III., p. 33. 'I
hopes my love will excuse me if I'm noi
quite— quite — ' Comtne ilfaut, George.'
' I don't mean that, love— not quite THE
CHEESE.'
1860. Punch, vol. XXXIX., p. 97,
Were the custom [of putting mottoes on
garments, temp. Rich. II.] now revived
we can conceive what stupid mottoes
would be sported by the CEntish who
always mock and maul the fashion of their
betters : — ' / wish my gal to please : O,
aint I just THE CHEESE ' would doubtless
be a popular device for a new shirt front.
1863. CHAS. READE, Hard Cash, II .,
186. ' Who ever heard [said Mrs. Dodd]
of a young lady being married without
something to be married in ? ' ' Well
[said Edward], I've heard Nudity is not
THE CHEESE on public occasions.
2. subs, (schools and Univer-
sity). — An adept ; one who
' takes the shine out of another '
at anything ; at Cambridge an
overdressed dandy is called a
HOWLING CHEESE. [An ex-
tended usage based on sense i.]
1864. Eton School-days. ' Do you
know Homer, Purefoy ? ' asked Chudleigh.
' No, I have not looked at the lesson yet.'
1 1 am sure I don't know why you ever do ;
you are such a CHEESE. I want you to
give me a construe.'
HARD CHEESE, phr. (common).
— What is barely endurable ;
hard lines; bad luck.
TIP-CHEESE. — Probably
same as TIP-CAT (q.v.\
the
1836. C. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers,
p. 282 (ed. 1857). A11 is gloom and silence
in the house ; even the voice of the child
is hushed ; his infant sports are disregarded
when his mother weeps ; his ' alley tors '
and his ' cotnmoneys ' are alike neglected ;
he forgets the long familiar cry of ' knuckle
down,' and at TIP-CHEESE, or odd and
even, his hand is out.
CHEESE IT ! phr. (thieves'). —
Leave off ! Have done ! Be off !
[Thought to be a corruption of
' cease it ! '] • For synonyms, see
STOW IT !^
1811. Lexicon Balatronictun , CHEESE
IT, the coves are fly ; be silent, the people
understand our discourse.
Cheese-Boxes.
86
Cheese- Toaster.
1859. SALA, Gaslight and Daylight,
ch. xxviii. Two or three ' hallos ! ' and
' now thens ! ' accompanied by a strong
recommendation to CHEESE IT (i.e., act of
cessation), causes these trifling annoyances
to cease.
1864. Times, 7 December. He shouted
' Murder ! ' as well as he could, and the
cries he made bringing assistance, he
heard one of the men just before they let
go of him call out ' CHEESE IT, CHEESE
IT,' which a policeman said meant make
off.
1871. London Figaro, May 13, p. 3,
col. 3. ' CHEESE THAT,' cried Bill. 'The
genelman's agoin' to read, and I am agoin'
to listen.'
CHEESE- BOXES, subs. (American).
— A Confederate nickname for
vessels of the ' Monitor ' type ;
first applied during the Civil
War [1860-65]. £/•» TINCLADS
1871. DE VERB, Americanisms, p.
335. The great inventor has not made it
known what induced him to choose the
name [' Monitor '] : hence etymologists
have evolved it out of their inner con-
sciousness that he must have borrowed it
from Gray's Monitor Dracaena, a large
lizard covered with impenetrable armour.
Irreverent Confederates called the hideous-
looking vessels CHEESE-BOXES, and appar-
ently one designation is, etymologically,
though not aesthetically, as good as the
other.
CHEESECUTTER, subs, (common). —
I. A prominent, aquiline nose.
For synonyms, see CONK.
2. (common). — A large, square
peak to a cap ; the abat-jour of
the Zouaves.
3. (in plural). — Bandy-legs.
For synonyms, see DRUMSTICKS.
CHEESE-KNIFE, subs, (military). — A
sword. For synonyms, see
CHEESE-TOASTER.
CHEESEMONGERS. — A popular
name for the First Lifeguards
until the Peninsular War. The
term then fell into desuetude ;
but at Waterloo the command-
ing officer of the regiment had
not forgotten it, and when lead-
ing to the charge, he called
out, ' Come on, you damned
CHEESEMONGERS ! ' an invitation
accepted so heartily that the
title was restored, with the
difference that it was no longer
a word of reproach. [Some say
that the nickname came from
their exclusive home service
until the time of the Peninsular
War ; others that it was bestowed
on account of the old gentle-
men in the corps declining to
serve when it was remodelled
in 1788, on the ground that
the ranks were no longer
composed of gentlemen, but of
CHEESEMONGERS.] Also called
THE CHEESES.
CHEESER, subs. (old). — An eructa-
tion. The Spanish has una
pluma (f; literally 'a feather') ;
zullenco (a common colloquialism);
soltar el preso (soltar — ' to un-
loose,' or 'to untie'; preso —
' a prisoner ').
CHEESES. — See CHEESEMONGERS.
CHEESE-TOASTER, sttbs. (military).
— A sword.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Toast-
ing-fork ; toasting iron ; sharp ;
knitting - needle ; iron ; cheese-
knife ; toll ; poker.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Un astic
(thieves' : from the German
Stich}\ F aiguille h tt icoter les cotes
(military : r aiguille h tricoter =
knitting-needle, c6tes = i\\>s)', Fen-
trecdte (popular) ; un charlemagne
(military ; a bayonet-sabre) ; MI
Bon-Dieu {military) ; une curette
Cheesy.
Cherry-Merry.
(military : a cavalry sword, as
also is un bancal) ; ttne cdte de
b<xuf ( thieves') ; un grand couteau
(military : a cavalry sword.
Literally 'a large knife'); un
fauchon (popular) ; un fauchon
de satou (a wooden sword) ; une
gaudille or gandille ; Joyeuse
(the name of the sword of Charle-
magne) ; uneflambe txflamberge
(the sword of Roland) ; une
faille de jer ( = cold steel) ; une
latte (a cavalry sword) ; une
lardoire (popular).
GERMAN SYNONYM. Michel
(from the Hebrew michael, an
executioner's sword ; also Lang-
nrichel).
ITALIAN SYNONYM. Martina.
SPANISH SYNONYMS. Fis-
berta ; ccntella (literally 'spark,'
' thunder,' ' lightning ' ) ; respeto
(properly ' respect ') ; garrancha ;
durindana.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
CHEESE-TOASTER : a sword.
1857-59. THACKERAY, Virginians,
x. I'll drive my CHEESE-TOASTER through
his body.
CHEESY, adj. (common). — Fine or
showy. The opposite of ' dusty. '
[From CHEESE (q.v.) + Y.] For
synonyms, see UP TO DICK.
1858. R. S. SURTEES, Ask Mamma,
xlviii., 211. To see him at Tattersall's
sucking his cane, his CHEESY hat well
down on his nose. [M.]
CH EM i LOON, subs. — Chemise and
drawers in one ; a COMBINATION
(q.v.).
CHEPEMENS, s^^bs. (old). — See
quot.
1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all,
p. 37 (H. Club'sRepr., 1874). CHEPEMANS :
Gheape-side Market.
CHEQUE. To HAVE SEEN THE
CHEQUE, phr. (common). — To
know positively ; 10 be possesse d
of exact knowledge concerning
a matter. For synonyms, see
KNOWING.
(old).
The
CHERRILETS, subs.
nipples.
1599. SYLVESTER, Miracle of the
Peace. Then those twins, thy strawberry
teates, Curled, purled CHERRILETS?
1654. Witt's Recreations. Then
nature for a sweet allurement sets Two
smelling, swelling, bashful CHERRYLETS.
CHERRY, subs, (thieves'). — A young
girl. Cf., CHERRY-RIPE and
ROSEBUD.
CHERRY-BREECHES. — See CHERU-
BIMS.
CHERRY-COLOURED, adj. (com-
mon).— Either red or black ; a
term used in a cheating trick at
cards. When the cards are
being dealt, a ' knowing 'one offers
to bet that he will tell the colour
of the turn-up card. « Done,'
says Mr. Green. The sum being
named, Mr. Sharp affirms that
it will be CHERRY-COLOUR ; and
as cherries are either black or
red, he wins. Grose [1785] has
CHERRY-COLOURED CAT for one
either black or white in colour.
1834. HARRISON AINSWORTH, Rook-
•wood. And forth to the heath is the
scamps-man gone, His matchless CHERRY
BLACK prancer riding.
1886. ///. London News, Jan. 23,
p. 78, col. 2. A favourite hoax is the
great exhibition, wherein a CHERRY-
COLOURED cat and a rose-coloured pigeon
(the meeting between Wellington and
Blucher), etc., are to be shown. The
former consists of a black cat and a white
pigeon.
CHERRY- MERRY, adj. (old). — i.
Convivial ; slightly inebriated.
Cherry Pickers.
88
Cheshire Cat.
1602. MIDDLETON, Blurt, I., i.
[Tricks, tricks, KERRY MERRY buff ! ]
1775. Cont. Sterne's Sent. four. , 219.
That every convivial assistant should go
home CHERRY-MERRY.
2. subs. (Anglo-Indian). — A
present of money. CHERRY-
MERRY-BAMBOO, a beating.
CHERRY-PICKERS,^^, (military)
See CHERUBIMS.
CHERRY-PIE, subs, (common).— A
girl. [Possibly only an ampli-
fication of CHERRY (q.v.).'} For
synonyms, see TITTER.
CHERRY -PIPE, subs, (rhyming
slang). — A woman, the 'rhyme'
being with 'ripe,' from CHERRY-
RIPE (q.v.). For synonyms, see
PETTICOAT.
CHERRY-RIPE, subs, (thieves'). — i.
A woman. Cf.t CHERRY = a
young girl. For synonyms, see
PETTICOAT.
2. (old).— A ' redbreast ' or
Bow Street Runner. [So called
from the scarlet waistcoat which
formed part of the uniform.]
3. (common). — A footman in
red plush.
4. (rhyming slang). — A pipe.
CHERUBIMS,~W/^, CHERRY- BUMS,
subs. (military). — i. The
Eleventh Hussars. [From their
crimson overalls.] Also CHERRY-
BREECHES and CHERRY-PICKERS.
1865. Notes and Queries, 3 S., vii.,
p. 49. nth Hussars — CHERUBIMS and
CHERRY PICKERS, having had some men
taken while on out-post duty in a fruit
garden in Spain.
1871. FORBES, Exper. War between
France and Germany, II., 149. When
(Lord Cardigan] commanded the CHERRY-
BREECHES there were generally more sore
backs among them than in any other
regiment in the service.
1871. Chambers Journal, Dec. 23, p.
802. The nth Hussars, the 'CHERUBIMS
and CHERRY PICKERS.'
2. (common). — Peevish child-
ren. [A facetious allusion to a
passage in the Te Deum — ' To
Thee cherubin and seraphin con-
tinually do cry.'] Quoted by
Grose [1785].
3. (common). — Chorister boys.
[Either founded on the allusion
quoted in sense 2, or in reference
to the fact that little more than
the heads of choristers is visible
to the general congregation.]
TO BE IN THE CHERUBIMS,
phr. (old). — To be in good hu-
mour ; in the clouds ; unsubstan-
tial ; fanciful.
1542. UDAL, Erasmus's A pophth., p.
139. Diogenes mocking such quidificall
trifles, that were al IN THE CHERUBINS,
said, Sir Plato, your table and your cuppe
I see very well, but as for your tabletee
and your cupitee 1 see none soche.
CHESHIRE CAT. To GRIN LIKE A
CHESHIRE CAT [CHEWING
GRAVEL, EATING CHEESE, Or
EVACUATING BONES, is sometimes
added], phr. (common). — To
laugh broadly — to 'laugh all
over one's face.' Used disparag-
ingly. [Origin unknown.]
1782. WOLCOT (' P. Pindar '), Pair of
Lyric Epistles, in wks. (Dublin, 1795), vol.
II., p. 424. Lo, like a CHESHIRE CAT our
Court will GRIN !
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
1855. THACKERAY, Newcomes, ch.
xxiv. In fact, Mr. Newcome says to
Mr. Pendenniy, in his droll, humourous
way, ' that woman grins like a CHESHIRE
CAT ! ' Who was the naturalist who first
discovered that peculiarity of the cats in
Cheshire?
1859. Letter from EDWARD S.TAYLOR
to John Camden Hotten, 22 Dec.
. Chest:
89
Chew.
CHESHIRE CAT EATING CHEESE — I have
always heard 'evacuating bones,' which
if less decent is more expressive.
1866. DODGSON (' Lewis Carroll '),
A lice in Wonderland, ch. viii.
CHEST. To CHUCK OUT ONE'S
CHEST, phr. (common). — To pull
oneself together ; stand firm ;
' keep a stiff upper lip.'
CHESTNUT, subs. (American). — A
stale joke or story ; an old ' Joe ' ;
something frequently said or done
before. As to the variants of
this phrase — their name is legion.
The old songs are CHESTNUT
songs ; he who would foist a stale
jest is implored to spare the
CHESTNUT tree, not to rustle the
CHESTNUT leaves, not to set the
CHESTNUT bell a-ringing. [The
Philadelphia Press( 1 888)attributes
the introduction of the phrase to
Mr. William Warren, a veteran
Boston comedian. In a forgotten
melodrama, by William Dillon,
called The Broken Swdrd, there
were two characters, one a Capt.
Xavier, and the other the come'dy
part of Pablo. Says the captain,
a sort of Munchausen, ' I entered
the woods of Colloway, sind
suddenly from the thick boughs
of a cork tree ' — when Pablo in-
terrupts him with the words : ' A
CHESTNUT, captain, a CHESTNUT.
' Bah ! ' replies the captain.
' Booby, I say a cork tree.' { A
CHESTNUT,' reiterates Pablo, ' I
should know as well as you,
having heard yoil tell the tale
these twenty - seven times.'
Warren, who had often played
Pablo, was at a stage-dinner,
where one of the men told a
story of doubtful age and origin-
ality. 'A CHESTNUT,' quoth
Warren, ' I have heard you
tell the tale these twenty-seven
times.' The application pleased,
and when the party broke up
each member helped to spread
the story and the commentary.
This is the most plausible of
many explanations.]
1882. HALKETT LORD, in N.andQ.,
7 S., vii., 53. I first heard the word
[CHESTNUT] in 1882, in a theatrical chop-
house (Brown's) in New York. The ex-
planation given to me by Mr. Brown —
once a well-known member of Wallack's
company — was ' CHESTNUT, because it is
old enough to have grown a beard,'
alluding to the prickly bristly husk of the
nuts.
1886 Dram. Rev., March 27, p. 86
col. 2. Minnie Palmer will give ^1000
to any one who will submit to her an idea
for legitimate advertising . . . CHESTNUT
ideas not wanted. [M.]
1888. New York Sun, Jan. 24. 'May
I venture to tell the old, old story, Miss
Maud,' he said, tremulously; 'the old,
old, yet ever new, story of—' ' Pardon
me, Mr. Sampson, if I cause you pain,'
interrupted the girl, gently, ' but to me
the story you wish to tell is a CHESTNUT.'
'A CHESTNUT?' 'Yes, Mr. Sampson,
I'm already engaged ; but I will be a
sister—' ' It isn't as wormy as that one,'
murmured Mr. Sampson, feeling for his
hat.
CHETE.— 6*^ CHEAT*
CHEW, subs, (common). — A small
portion of tobacco ; a quid. Cf.,
CHEW THE curj.
1880. JAS. GREENWOOD, Gaol Birds
at Large. A piece as large as a horse-
bean, called a CHEW, is regarded as an
equivalent for a twelve-ounce loaf and a
meat ration.
To CHEW ONESELF, verbal phr,
(American). — To get angry. For
synonyms, see NAB THE RUST.
To CHEW THE CUD, verbal
phr. (common). — To chew tor
bacco.
TO CHEW THE RAG or FAT,
verbal phr. (military). — To
grumble.
Ckewallop.
90
Chicken.
c. 1887. BRUNLEES PATTERSON, Life
in. the Ranks. Some of the 'knowing
blokes,' prominent among whom will be
the 'grousers,' will, in all probability, be
CHEWING THE RAG Or FAT.
CHEWALLOP! intj. (American). —
An onomatopoeia, representing, it
is thought, the sound of an object
falling heavily to the ground or
into water — See CACHUNK.
1835. HALIBURTON ('Sam Slick'),
The Clockmaker, 3 S., ch. ii. I felt . . .
only one stop more [and I] was over head
and ears CHEWALLOP in the water.
1888. HOPPE, Englisch - Deutsches
Supplement-Lexikon, p. 215. It means
'flat down,' and is a strong expression.
If a woman, for ex., falls head over heels
and flat to the ground, they say, 'she
fell CHEWALLOP.'
CHEWRE, verb (Old Cant).— To
steal.
CHIC, subs, (popular). — Finish ; ele-
gance ; spirit ; dash ; style — any
quality \\hich marks a person or
thing as superior. [Originally a
French slang term of uncertain
origin, Littre being inclined to
trace it to chicane, tact or skill.
The French chic originally signi-
fied subtlety, cunning, skill ;
and, among English painters. TO
CHIC UP A PICTURE, or TO DO A
THING FROM CHIC = to work
without models and out of one's
own head.]
1856. LEVER, Martins of Cro1 M.,
321. The French have invented a slang
word . . . and by the expression CHIC
have designated a certain property, by
which objects assert their undoubted
superiority over all their counterfeits.
1866. YATES, Land at Last, I., p.
no. A certain piquancy and CHIC in
her appearance.
1871. London Figaro, 28 Feb. Those
rollicking break-downs, those screeching
girls who are so much admired for their
CHIC, invariably give me a headache.
Adj. (common). — Stylish ;
elegant; 'up to Dick.' So also
CHICDOM. [From CHIC + DOM. ]
1873. Daily News, 9 June. She
must be ready to stick on a bow here
and there, to give herself an air of CHIC-
DOM. The youthful student, however,
must not go too far in the direction of
CHIC, . . . the chief thing which dis-
tinguishes the dress of a lady is the
absence of those prominent and inharmo-
nious decorations, etc.
CHICKABIDDY, subs, (costers'). — A
young girl. — See BIDDY. [A
nursery name for a chicken, com-
monly used as an endearment.]
For synonyms, see TITTER.
CHICK-WOMAN. — See * Much
Ado about Nothing.' Act I, Sc.
iii.
CmcKALEARYCovEor BLOKE, subs,
phr. (costers'). — An ' artful mem-
ber,' otherwise a DOWNY COVE
(q.v.t for synonyms).
c. 1869. VANCE, Broadside Ballad.
I'm a CHICKALEARY COVE, with my one,
two, three ; Whitechapel was the village
I was born in.
CHICKEN, subs, (thieves'). — A pint
pot. Cf., HENS AND CHICKENS
and CAT AND KITTENS.
1851. MAYHEW, London Labour and
London Poor, I., p. 276. The HENS
AND CHICKENS, of the low lodging-houses
are the publican's pewter measures ; the
bigger vessels are hens, the smaller
CHICKENS.
No CHICKEN, adv. phr. (com-
mon). — Elderly. [The term
CHICKEN is often applied to chil
dren.]
1720. SWIFT, Stellas Birthday. Pur-
sue your trade of scandel-picking, Your
hints that Stella is NO CHICKEN.
1738. SWIFT, Polite Conversation
(conv. i). I swear she's NO CHICKEN ; she's
on the wrong side of thirty if she be a
day.
1742. FIELDING, Joseph Andrews,
bk. II., ch. ix. Adams, who was NO
CHICKEN, and could bear a drubbing as
well as any boxing champion in the
unive'rse.
Chicken-Butcher.
Chill.
1771. SMOLLETT, Humphry Clinker,
1., 68. The knight swore he was NO
SUCH CHICKEN, but a tough old rogue,
that would live long enough to plague all
his neighbours.
1717 - 1797. HORACE WALPOLE,
Letters, III., 308. I made a visit yesterday
to the Abbess of Panthemont, General
Oglethorpe's niece, and NO CHICKEN.
1859. SALA, Gaslight and Daylight,
ch. v. I am NO CHICKEN (though not the
gray-headed old fogy that insulting Squirrel
presumes to call me).
To COUNT ONE'S CHICKENS
BEFORE THEY ARE HATCHED,
verbal phr. (colloquial). — To
reckon beforehand upon a
successful issue. The Latins said,
' Don't sing your song of triumph
before you have won the victory '
(antevictoriamcaneretriumphuni}.
' Don't hallo till you are out of
the wood ' has a similar meaning,
and in French, to lose a game as
good as won = la perdre belle. The
expression was doubtless popular-
ised by Butler in his Hudibras
[see quot., 1664], but it was
known long prior.
1579. GOSSON, Ephem., iga. I woulde
not have him TO COUNTE HIS CHICKENS
so soone BEFORE THEY BE HATCHT. [M.]
1664. BUTLER, Hudibras, II., iii.,
923. To swallow gudgeons ere they're
catch'd. And COUNT THEIR CHICKENS
ERE THEY'RE HATCHED.
CHICKEN-BUTCHER, suds. (old). — A
poulterer ; also a sportsman's
term for anyone shooting imma-
ture game.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
CHICKEN -FixiNGS,.mfo.( American).
— Properly a hash, stew, or fri-
cassee of chicken, but the term is
now applied to any fare out of
the common, and also to show of
any kind. French, la gueulardise.
Cf., COMMON DOINGS.
1864. A Trip to the South. An
extraordinary sight were the countless
waiters, held up to the car-windows at
Gordonsville by turbaned negro-women,
filled with coffee-cups, eggs, and the in-
evitable CHICKEN-FIXINGS, which it was
henceforth our fate to meet at every rail-
way depot, till we reached New Orleans.
18(?). CARLTON, Neiv Purchase, vol.
II., p. 240. These preachers dress like
big bugs, and go ridin' about on hundred-
dollar horses, a-spungin' poor priest-ridden
folks, and a-eaten CHICKEN-FIXINS so
powerful fast that chickens has got scarce
in these diggins.
CHI-IKE or CHY-ACK, subs, (cos-
ters').— A street salute ; a word
of praise. — See Coo EY.
c. 1869. VANCE. The Chick-a-leary
Cove. Now my pals I'm going to slope, see
you soon again, I hope, My young woman
is availing, so be quick, Now join in a
CHYIKE, the 'jolly' we all like.
1885. Daily Telegraph, April 6, p. 6,
col. i. A prosperous butcher . . . gives
him what Mr. Poleaxer calls a CHI-HIKE
at his gate as he passes that way in his
cart, between five and six a.m.
1864. HOTTEN, Slang Dictionary,
s.v.
Verb. — i. To salute or hail.
1886. Sporting Times, 17 July, j, 2.
There was no charge for admission.
Enough. They came, they saw, and they
CHI-IKED.
2. (tailors'). — To chaff un-
mercifully. For synonyms, see
GAMMON, sense i.
TO GIVE CHI-IKE WITH THE
CHILL OFF, phr. — To scold ;
abuse. For synonyms, see WIG.
CHILD. — See THIS CHILD.
CHILDREN'S SHOES. — See MAKE
CHILDREN'S SHOES.
CHILL or TAKE THE CHILL OFF [of
liquids], verb (popular). — To
warm. CHILL is a contraction
of the fuller phrase.
1835. DICKENS, Sketches by Boz, p.
264. A pint pot, the contents of which,
were CHILLING on the hob.
Chime.
92
Chink.
WITH THE CHILL OFF, phr.
(popular). — An expression of (i)
dissent, (2) depreciation, or (3)
disbelief. A variant of OVER
THE LEFT (q.V.).
CHIME, verb (thieves'). — To praise ;
extol ; puff ; canoodle : especi-
ally with a view to personal
advantage.
CHIMNEY, subs, (common). — A
great smoker ; Fr., un locomotive.
CHIMNEY CHOPS, subs. (old). — A
negro. [An allusion to colour.]
For synonyms, see SNOWBALL.
CHIMNEY-POT, sub's, (common).—
The silk hat worn by men, as
also by women on horseback.
Also called a STOVE - PIPE,
BEAVER, BELL-TOPPER, etc., but
for synonyms, see GOLGOTHA.
[An allusion to shape and
colour.] The French has une
cheminee.
1861. Punch, vol. XLI., p. 258.
' The Riding-Hat Question.' Lucy. ' Now
tell me, Mary, which is the best ? ' Mary
(who is rather horsey). ' Well, dear, for
tea in the arbpur and that sort of thing,
perhaps the little found one ; but if you
want to look like going across country,
the CHIMNEY-POT all to nothing.'
1864. Spectator, p. 356. The CHIM-
NEY-POT hat, for the power of ifs trans-
cendant ugliness beat all the artists,
penmen, and men of taste in England, ten
years ago.
1871. Echo, z March. ' London
Trades — Hatters.' The shape of the
CHIMNEY-POT is constantly changing, as
we all know.
1880. Punch's A Intanack, p. 10. Now,
why should not gentlemen content them-
selves with mere underclothing, and dis-
card the hideous CHIMNEY-POT, Frock
Coat, and Trousers of the Period, so fatal
to Pictorial Design ?
1890. Daily Graphic, Jan. 7, p. 9,
col. 4. Then the crowd go mad. Up fly
head-gear, CHIMNEY-POT, and wide-a-wake
alike, their owners careless of their fate.
CHIMNEY-SWEEP, subs, (common),
—i. A black draught. Cf.,
' CUSTOM-HOUSE OFFICER.
2. A clergyman. [In allu-
sion to the black wear of ' the
cloth.'] For synonyms, see
DEVIL - DODGER. Sweeps are
nicknamed CLERGYMEN.
CHIN, subs. (American thieves'). —
A child. [ ? A corruption of
kinchin. ~\
Verb (American). — i. To
talk ; to chatter.
1883. Bread-winners (1884), 161. You
haven't done a thing but . . . eat pea nuts
and hear Bott CHIN. [M.]
1887. New York World. They CHIN
about the best methods of relieving
poverty. [M.]
18(?)- FRANCIS, Saddle and Moccasin.
He was a worker, and liked nothing better
than to get into a circle of young cow-
punchers, and CHIN and josh with them.
2. To talk or act with brazen
effrontery.
CHINAS, subs. (Stock Exchange).
Eastern Extension Australasian
and China Telegraph Shares.
CHIN-CHOPPER, subs, (pugilists').
—A drive under the chin. For
synonyms, see DIG.
CHINK, subs. (old). — i. Money;
ready cash ; also CHINKERS, or
JINK. For synonyms, see ACTUAL
and GILT,
1557. TUSSER, Husbandrie, ch. Ivii.,
St. 43, p. 134 (E.D.Si): To buie it the
cheaper, haue CHINKES in thy purse.
1595. SHAKSPEARE Romeo and
Juliet, Act i., Sc. 5. I nursed her
daughter, that you talk'd withal ; I tell
you he that can lay hold of her Shall have
the CHINKS.
1603. JOHN DAY, LaivTrickes, Acti.
They know me rich, Horatio, —
CHINKE, CHINKE ! Whilst this holds out,
my cause shall never sincke
Chinkers.
93
Chip.
1630. JONSON, New Inn, I. Where
every jovial tinker, for his CHINK, May
cry, Mine host, to crambe ! ' Give us
drink.'
1754. B. MARTIN, Eng. Diet., 2 ed.,
s.v.
18(?). Miss WETHERELL, Glenham-
Family, ch. xxviii. ' I guess it's some-
thing else, — she had CHINK enough to buy
shoes with, / know.'
2. (general). — The female
pudendum. For synonyms, see
MONOSYLLABLE.
CHINKERS, subs, (old).-^i. Money
— See CHINK.
1834. TAYLOR, Ph. van Artevelde,
pt. II., Hi., i. We're vile crossbow-men,
and a knight are you, But steel is steel,
and flesh is still but flesh, So let us see
your CHINKERS.
1887. BAUMANN, A Slang Ditty.
Rum coves that relieve us of CHINKERS
and pieces, Is gin'rally lagged, Or, wuss
luck, they gits scragged.
2. (thieves')* — Handcuffs uni?
ted by a chain. [Derivation ob-
vious.] For synonyms, see
BIES.
CHIN-MUSIC, subs. (American). —
Talk ; chatter ; oratory. Cf.,
CHIN-WAG. The French say
casser un mot.
1872. S. L. CLEMENS (' Mark Twain'),
Roughing It, p. 332. The thing I'm now
on is to roust out somebody to jerk a little
CHIN-MUSIC for us.
1874. S. L. CLEMENS ('Mark Twain'),
Gilded Age. Whereupon a young sprig
. . . began to sass [sauce] the conductor
with his CHIN-MUSIC.
1876, BESANT AND RICE, Golden
Butterfly, ch. xxvi. 'I am not,' said he,
' going to orate. You did not come here,
I guess, to hear me pay out CHIN-MUSIC.
•' 1883. Bread-Winners, 77. If we
have joined this order to listen to CHIN-
MUSIC the rest of our lives.
CHINNING, verbal subs. (American).
— Chatting j talking,
CHINNY, adj. (American). — Talk-
ative. [From CHIN, verb, sense
I, + NY.]
CHINQUA SOLDI, subs. phr.
(theatrical). — Fivepence. [From
the Italian.]
CHINSE, subs. (Winchester College).
— a chance, [Apparently a
corrupted form of the word.]
C H I N - W AG , subs . (common).— Talk ;
chatter ; officious impertinence.
1879, Punch, No. 2061, p. 4. I'd just
like to have a bit of CHIN-WAG with you
on the quiet.
CHIP, subs. (American).— I. [In
plural.] Items of news, more
especially LOCALS (q.v.),
2. A reporter who collects
CHIPS, sense I.
3. (common). — A sovereign.
— See CHIPS, sense 5.
1883. Miss BRADDON, Phantom
Fortune, ch. xli. Where i^heafs of bank
notes were being exchanged for those
various coloured counters which represented
divers values, from the respectable ' pony
to the modest CHIP.
4. (gaming). — See
subs, sense 2.
CHIPS,
Verb (American).— To underr
stand. For synonyms, see TWIG
18(?). FRANCIS, Saddle and Moccasin.
I knew at once that they had got scared,
and had trenched up like a bevy of quails ;
so I said to Jim, ' Now you let me do the
talking, when they begin to sing " Indians "
— don't you CHIP?'
To CHIP IN, verb (common).— *.
To contribute one's share in
money or kind ; to join in an un*
dertaking ; to interpose smartly.
1884. BRET HARTE, In the Tunnel.
When you'll hear the next fool Asking of
Flynn— Just you CHIP IN, Say you knew
Flynn.
Chip.
94
Chips
1869. S. L. CLEMENS (' Mark Twain '),
Innocents at Home, p. 22. Pard, he was
a great loss to this town. It would please
the boys if you could CHIP IN something
like that, and do him justice.
1888. American Magazine, Sept.
A man who won't CHIP IN to charity is
always an object of suspicion.
1888. Star, 12 Dec., p. 3, col. 3.
Justice Smith here CHIPPED IN with the
remark that counsel . . . had not cur-
tailed their cross-examination.
NOT TO CARE A CHIP.
CARE and FIG.
See
BROTHER CHIP, subs. phr.
(common). — ' Brother smut ' ; one
of the same trade or profession.
Of., CHIP OF THE OLD BLOCK.
1862. Penny Newsman. ' Mr. Bernal
Osborne on Pigs and Politics.' I must
say I never saw a set of gentlemen, \vho
were in such excellent condition without
verging upon obesity (considerable
laughter). I could have wished, gentle-
men, that there had been a larger show
to-day. At the same time as a BROTHER
CHIP (a laugh) — Oh, gentlemen, I am a
farmer (hear). I am one of those farmers
that don't understand my business as well
as I ought.
CHIP OF THE SAME, or THE
SAME OLD, BLOCK, sometimes ab-
breviated tc CHIP, phr. (common).
A person reproducing certain fa-
miliar or striking characteristics.
CHIP = also a man or thing, and
in this sense is equivalent to
BLOKE, COVE, CHEAT, etc., all
of which see.
c. 1626. Dick of Devonshire, in
Bullen's Old Plays, ii., 60. Your father
used to come home to my mother, and
why may not I be A CHIPP OF THE SAME
BLOCKE, out of which you two were cutt?
1762. COLMAN, Musical Lady, II.,
iii. You'll find him his father's own son, I
believe ; A CHIP OF THE OLD BLOCK, I
promise you !
1843. DICKENS, Martin Chuzzlewit,
ch. xviii., p. 189. 'Yes, yes, Chuffey,
Jonas is a CHIP OF THE OLD BLOCK. It's
a very old block now, Chuffey,' said the
old man.
1860. Funny Fellow, May 7, p. i.
Hollo, my kiddy, stir your stumps, And
chuck yourself about ; Make haste, young
CHIP, my boots to shine, Or your shine I'll
quick take out.
1865. M. E. BRADDON, Henry Dun-
bart ch. xxxviii. I was in love myself
once, though I do seem such a dry old
CHIP.
CHIP IN PORRIDGE, BROTH,
etc., phr. (common). — An old
phrase signifying a thing of no
moment ; a nonentity.
1686. GOAD, Celest. Bodies, I., xvii.,
108. The Sextile is no CHIP IN BROTH
. . . but a very considerable Engine. [M.]
1688. Vox Cleri Pro Rege, 56. A
sort of CHIP IN POTTAGE, which (he
hopes) will not do Popery much good, nor
the Church of England much harm. [M.]
1849. SIR CHAS. NAPIER, as quoted
in N. and Q., i S., i., p. 383. 'The
reviews which the Commander-in-Chief
makes of the troops are not to be taken as
so many CHIPS IN PORRIDGE.'
1880. Church Times, 25 June. The
Burials Bill ... is thought ... to re-
semble the proverbial CHIP IN PORRIDGE,
which does neither good nor harm. [M.]
CHIPPER, adj. (American).-
active ; ready to ' chip in.
Fit';
CHIPPY, adj. (common). — Unwell;
seedy. Generally used to de-
scribe the results of over-indul-
gence in eating, drinking, etc.
Cf., CHEAP.
1877. Belgra-via, April, p. 235. After
two copious libations of the above [B.
and S.], a man is apt to feel CHIPPY next
morning.
1884. HAWLEY SMART, From Post to
Finish [Ry. ed.], p. 157. A dozen cigars
a day make one feel dreadfully CHIPPY in
the morning.
CHIPS, subs. (old). — I. A carpenter,
Fourbesque equivalents are gan-
gherino and zan°arino, whilst the
Gaunersprache has Mepaie.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue.
A nick-name for a carpenter.
Chirp.
95
Chirpy.
J851. Chambers Paper, No. 52, p. 20.
The carpenter, a rough hardy Swede,
rejoicing in the name of Burstrome, was
not offended in the slightest degree at
being called CHIPS even by the black
cuddy servant.
1883. CLARK RUSSELL, Sailors Lan-
guage, pref. , xii. The carpenter is more
politely termed CHIPS.
2. (gaming). — Counters used
in games of chance. Cf.t CHECKS.
1869. S. L. CLEMENS (' Mark Twain '),
Innocents at Home, ch. ii. Don't put up
another CHIP till I look at my hand.
3. (American). — Cards. [Mr.
C. Nordhoff writing to Mr. John
Camden Hotten, on I May, 1865,
states that ' CHIPS = slang for
cards.']
4. (common). — Money. [This
usage is derived through sense 2,
and passes naturally to sense 5
1877. W. BLACK, Green Past, and
Pice., ch. xlix. You kent fool away your
hand and keep the CHIPS.
1885. Sporting' Times, 23 May. ' The
Chorister' Promise.' The landlady came
and knocked at the door — (Sing Fulham
Road), Saying she'd have to clear out,
and swore She'd distrain on her wardrobe
what was more (Because of the CHIPS she
owed).
5. (general). — A sovereign.
Used both in sing, and pi. — See
quot. under CHIP, sense 3,
and Cf., preceding sense.
6. (Wellington College). -A
kind of grill, so called from its
hardness.
To HAND IN ONE'S CHIPS, phr.
(gamblers'). — To die. [For prob-
able derivation, see CHECKS.]
CHIRP, verb (thieves'). — I. To talk.
For synonyms, see PATTER.
Grose has CHIRPING MERRY =
exhilarated with liquor.
1884. J. GREENWOOD. The Little
Ragamuffins. I firmly resolved to CHIRP,
when I was taken before the magistrate to
give evidence, as little as possible.
2. To inform,
nyms, see PEACH.
For syno-
CHIRPER, subs, (common). — i. A
singer.
2. (common). — A glass or
tankard.
1862. GEORGE MEREDITH, Juggling
Jerry Poems. Hand up the CHIRPER !
ripe ale winks in it ; Let's have comfort
and be at peace. Once a stout draught
made me light as a linnet. Cheer up ! the
Lord must have his lease.
3. (common). — The mouth.
For synonyms, see POTATO TRAP.
4. (music-hall). — One of a
gang frequenting the stage doors
of music-halls to blackmail the
singers. If money be refused
them, they go into the auditorium
and hoot, hiss, and groan at the
performer. [Cf., CHIRRUP, quot..
1888.]
1889. Daily News, 2 July, p. 2.
Singularly enough the Canterbury Music-
hall . . . was mentioned in one of the night-
charges, two men known as CHIRPERS or
CHIRRIPERS being brought before Mr.
Biron.
CHIRPY, adj. (colloquial).— Cheer-
ful ; lively. [P>om CHIRP =
babble of birds, + Y.]
1837. J. BATES, in Ht. Martineau,
Soc. Amer., III., 332. It makes me
CHIRPY to think of Roseland.
1879. JUSTIN MCCARTHY. Donna
Quixofe, ch. xxxv. To Charlton this
appeared gravely ominous . . . Paulina,
on the other hand, was what she would
herself have called CHIRPY.
1882. BESANT , A II Sorts and Condi
tions of Men, ch. xx., p. 146. Her lady-
ship pu quite a CHIRPY face upon Jt.
Chirnip.
Chiselling.
CHIRRUP, "verb (music-hall). — To
cheer or applaud under a system
of blackmail. [The term appears
to have come into vogue in the
early part of 1888. — See quots.
under CHIRRUPER ; also Cf.\
CHIRPER, sense 4, nnd CHIRRUP-
ING.]
CHIRRUPER. — See CHIRPER, senses
I and 4, Fr., un intime.
1888. Pall Mall Gazette^ 6 Mar., p.
4, col. 2. A CHIRRUPER . . . excused
himself at the Lambeth Police Court
yesterday by alleging that ' he thought
there was no harm in it.'
1888. J. PAVN, in Illustrated London
Ner:vs, 17 Mar., p. 268. The . . . singers
in music-halls cannot ... do without him
(the CHIRRUPER). [M.]
CHIRRUPING, verbal subs, (music-
hall) — Hanging about stage
doors to intercept the ' artistes,'
and extort money with a state-
ment that the performer who
' parts ' will be applauded. [For
suggested, but very dubious, de-
rivation, see quot., and £/>,
CHIRPER, sense 4.]
1888. Pall Mall Gazette, 9 March,
p. 14. CHIRRUPING. Mr. Rintoul Mitchell
writing from the Savage Club [asks] to
add a hint as to the etymology of the
word. It is not remote. The French
argot for blackmail is chantage. Such
paltry operations as those reported from
the Lambeth music-hall do not merit the
description of singing— they are simply
twittering or CHIRRUPING.
CHISEL, CHIZZLE, or CHUZZLE,
verb (common). — To cheat.
[Possibly an extension of the
orthodox meaning of the Verb in
the sense of * to cut, shave, or
pare with a chisel to an exces.-
sive degree.' Jamieson (1808)
gives CHISEL as to cheat, or act
deceitfully. Current during the
first half of the present century,
it seems first to have appeared in
literature about 1840. Cf.,
GOUGE, SHAVE, SKIN, and other
words of a kindred type.] For
synonyms, see STICK.
1844. Illustrated London News, 25
May. 'The Derby.' They have CHISELED
the peaman and no mistake about that.
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and L on. Poor, vol. III., p. 78. When we
got home at night we shared zs. a piece.
There was five of us altogether ; but I
think they CHISSELLED me.
1858. Savannah Republican, 17 May.
When the books were overhauled by the
Committee, it was found that . . the
stockholders would be CHISELLED out of
a pretty considerable sum.
1865. Saturday Review, April. Mr,
Hptten has given the supposed classical
originals of ' Dickey ' and of ' Skedaddle.'
He might have traced the slang verb TO
CHISEL to the Latin deascio and deruncinc.
1865. G. A, SALA, Trip to Barbary,
ch. xx. To ' carrotter ' any one, say an
uncle or a creditor, is to CHIZZLE or
' chouse ' or ' do ' him out of his property
amidst assurances of high-flown benevor
lence and exalted integrity.
TO GO FULL CHISEL, phi'.
(American). — To go at full speed
or ' full drive ' ; to show intense
earnestness ; to use great force j
to go off brilliantly.
1835. HALIBURTON, Clockmaker
(1862), 95. The long shanks of a bittern
. > . a drivin' away like mad, FULL CHISEL
arter a frog.
1878. MRS. STOWE, Ppganuc P., ix.,
76. Then he'd turn and run up the narrow
way, FULL CHISEL. [M.]
CHISELLING, verbal subs. Cheating.
[C/., CHISEL, verb.] Variants
are BAMMING ; BITING ; BEST-
' ING ; GOUGING, etc.
1871. DE VERB, Americanisms, p.
298. Other efforts at cheating are desig-
nated as CHISSELLING — not as some have
believed from the practice of CHISELLING,
that is, opening by means of cold chisels
the safes of banks and merchants, since
the term is much older than the intro-
duction of safes.
Chit.
97
CHIT, subs. (Anglo-Indian). — i. A
letter ; corruption of a Hindoo
word.
1785. In Seton-Karr, I., 114. [They]
may know his terms by sending a CHIT.
[M.]
1887. Chamb. /our,, 25 June, p. 411.
He had brought a note or CHITTI, as they
call it in those parts [Bengal].
2. (society). — An order for
drinks in clubs, etc. [Obviously
an extended use of sense I. In
India the practice of writing
CHITS or notes on the smallest
provocation has always been
carried to excess.]
3. (common). — A girl, under
age and undersized. For general
synonyms, see TITTER.
4. subs. (Scots). Food eaten
in the hand : as a THUMBER
(g.v.), a workman's lunch, and a
child's PIECE (y.v.).
CHITTERLINGS, suds. (old). — The
shirt frills once fashionable.
[Properly the entrails of a pig,
to which they are supposed to
bear some resemblance.]
CHITTY, subs, (tailors'). — An assis-
tant cutter or trimmer.
CHITTY-FACED, adj. (old). — Thin;
weazened ; baby-faced. Cf., CnlT,
sense 3;
1601. MUNDAY, Down/. R. Ea*-l of
Huntingdon^ I., iii. You halfe-fac't groat,
you thick [? thin] cheekt CHITTI-FACE.
[M.]
1621. BURTON, Anat. ofMelan, [2nd
ed.], p. 519. A thin, lean, CHITTY-FACE.
1690. B. E., Diet. Cant. Crew.
1725. New Cant. Diet.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vuig. Tongue.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum.
1859. HOTTEN, Slang Diet.
CHIV. — See CHIVE.
CHIVALRY, subs. (old). — Coition.
[From the Lingua Franca or O. F.
chevaulcher.~\ For synonyms, see
GREENS and Cf., RIDE.
CHIVE or CHIV, subs, (thieves'). —
i. A knife. [The Gypsy has
CHIVE, to stab.]
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Arkan-
sas toothpick (a bowie knife) ;
cabbage-bleeder ; whittle ; gully ;
jocteleg (a clasp knife : a corrup-
tion of Jacques de Liege) ; snick-
ersnee (nautical); cuttle ; cuttle-
bung ; pig-sticker.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Un bince
(thieves') ; un coupe-lard (popu-
lar : literary * a bacon slicer,'
lard being used as the English
' bacon ' for the human body) ;
un coupe-sijflet (thieves' : couper
le sifflet d quelqu'un = ' to cut
any one's throat ') ; un Hngre or
lingue (thieves' : from Langres, a
manufacturing town) ; un trente-
deux or un vingt-deux (thieves' :
originally terms used by Dutch
and Flemish thieves') ; un chourin
or surin (thieves' : possibly from
the Gypsy churi, 'a knife'); un
pliant (thieves') ; une petite flambe
(thieves' : also a sword, said by
Michel to be derived from filam-
berge^ the name of the sword of
Renaud de Montauban. A/ettre
Jlamberge au vent=^<i to draw').
GERMAN SYNONYMS. Hecht-
ling ; Kaut (possibly connected
with the English ' cut ') ; JMandel
or Mandle: (Viennese thieves':
in the Gaunersprache = ' a man,'
especially a little one); Sackin,
Sackem, Sackum, Zatkin,
Zacken (from the Hebrew sochan)-,
Schorin or ^chorie (from the Gypsy
churi, which in Hanover appears
as Czuri).
7
Chive-Fencer.
98
Chiving Lay.
ITALIAN SYNONYM. Bacchdto.
PORTUGUESESYNONYM. Sarda.
1674. R. HEAD, Canting Academy,
12. He takes his CHIVE and cuts us down.
1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4 ed.),
p. n. CHIEVE, knife.
1785. GROSE, Diet, of the Vulgar
Tongue ', s.v.
1828. JON. BEE, Picture of London,
p. 26. Some of these accomplices also
carry a CHIV, or knife.
1837. DISRAELI, Venetia, ch. xiv.
' Berwnu,' he shouted, ' gibela CHIV for
the gentry cove.'
187P. J. W. HORSLEY, in Macm,
Mag., XL., 503. So we had a fight, and
he put the CHIVE (knife) into me.
2. See CHIVEY.
Verb.— To stab; lo 'knife.'
1725. New Cant. Diet. To CHIVE
his Darbies : to saw asunder his Irons.
1812. J. H. VAUX, Flash Diet., s.v.
To CHIV a person is to stab or cut him
with a knife.
1868. CasselFs Magazine, May, p. 80.
He [a bushranger] was as good a man as
Jackyat any weapon that could be named,
and if Jacky were game for a CHIVING
(stabbing) match, he (Kavanagh) was
ready for him.
1879. J. W. HORSLEY, in Macm.
Mag., XL., 503. After the place got well
where I was CHIVED.
CHIVE-FENCER, subs, (costers'). — A
street hawker of cutlery. [From
CHIVE, a knife, + FENCE or FEN-
CER, a receiver of stolen property.]
CHIVEY or CHIVVY, subs, (common).
— A shout ; greeting or cheer.
Cf.t CHI-IKE.
Verb (common). — To 'guy';
to chase round or hunt about ; to
throw or pitch about. Also
CHEVY. [Mr. C. G. Leland says
in Annandale (vol. I., 460)
CHIVVY is a common English
word, meaning to goad, drive*
vex, hunt, or throw as it were
here and there. It is purely
Gypsy. Chiv in Rommany
means anything sharp-pointed, as
a dagger, goad, or knife. The
old Gypsy word chiv among its
numerous meanings has exactly
that of casting, throwing, pitch-
ing, and driving. Murray,
however, inclines to derive it
from Chevy Chase, the scene of a
famous Border skirmish ; in any
case the usage is modern, but see
quot., 1821.] So also CHIVIED,
CHIVEYING, etc.
1821. M.ONCRiEFF,Tomand/erry,l.,
vii. Log. Come along, then. Now,
Jerry, CHIVEY ! Jerry. CHIVEY? Log.
Mizzle! Jeiry. Mizzle? Log. Tip your
rags a gallop ! Jerry. Tip my rags a
gallop? . . . Log. Bolt! Jerry. Bolt?
Oh, aye ! I'm fly now. You mean go.
1.840. GEN. P. THOMPSON, Exerc.
(1842), V. 50. The other side are to blame,
if they do not, as we should say in the
dragoons ' CHEVY ' them back again.
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and L on. Poor, vol. III., p. 44. I never
had patience enough to try and kill fleas
by my process ; it would be too much of a
CHIVEY to please me.
1863. H. KINGSLEY, Austin Elliot,
ch. xxxix. The dog . . . used to CHIVY
the cats into the window among the bon
bons, and play the deuce and all.
1864. Eton School-days, ch. xiv.,
p. 168. Burke, however, ran the faster of
the two, and after a short CHIVEY,
succeeded in capturing him;
1868. Miss BRADDON, Trail of the
Serpent, bk. VI., ch. iv. The Board of
Health came a-CHiVYiNG of us to take up
pur floorings, and limewash ourselves
inside.
1871. Daily frews^ Report, ' A Repub-
lican Demonstration in Hyde Park, on
Sunday, April 17.' A comparatively
decent man selling ' A History of Ireland '
was mobbed and CHIVIED from side to
side.
CHIVING LAY, subs. phr. (old). —
Cutting the braces of coaches
behindj whereupon, the coachman
quitting the box, ah accomplice
Chivy.
99
Choke Off.
broke and robbed the boot. Also
cutting through the back of the
coach to snatch the large and
costly wigs then fashionable.
— Grose. [From CHIVE, a knife. ]
CHIVY or CHEVY, subs, (thieves'). —
The face. For synonyms, see
DIAL.
c. 1886. Music Hall Song; ' 'Aint he
got an artful CHEVY.'
Verb. — To scold; to bullyrag.
For synonyms, see WIG.
CHOAKEE.— See CHOKEY.
CHOCK, verb (streets').- -To strike
a person under the chin. [Pro-
bably a corruption of TO CHUCK,
i.e., ( chuc"k under the chin.'] —
See CHOCKER.
CHOCKER, jtt&r. (streets'). — A man.
Generally OLD CHOCKER, and
thus comparable with OLD
CODGER (q.v.). The term is not
however, used in contempt ;
presumably, therefore, it signi-
fies a manly man, i.e., one who
is capable of l chocking. ' — See
CHOCK.
CHOCOLATE. To GIVE CHOCOLATE
WITHOUT SUGAR, phr. (old). —
To reprove; — Grose [1785], and
Lexical Balatronicum [1811].
CHOKE-DOG, subs, (common). —
Cheese ; especially that made in
Devonshire.
1870. Good Words, March. As I
have said before, the Dorsetshire hind is
undoubtedly under-fed. Bread and CHOKE-
DOG, as he calls his county's cheese, etc.
— these, as I have said before, are the
thief items in his bill of fare.
CHOKE OFF, verb (common). — To
get rid off; to put a stop to ; and
in a milder sense, ' to run con-
trary to.' [In the first instance
the idea was associated with the
throttling of bull-dogs to make
them loose their hold ; but the
editor of a recent edition of the
Slang Dictionary (Mr. Henry M.
Sampson of The Referee} adds en
parenthese, 'Of course by these
who don't know the scientific
way used in canine exhibitions
and dog-fights — of biting their
tails till they round to bite the
biter.']
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. To shut
off; to shunt ; to fub off; to
rump ; to cold shoulder. For
synonyms in a more emphatic
sense, see FLOOR.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Envoyer
quelqu'un s'asseoir (popular : Cf.,
' to set one down ') ; arreter les
frais (' to put a stop to proceed-
ings.')
1818. COBBETT, Pol. Rfg., XXXIII.,
72. The Duke's seven mouths . . . made
the Whig party CHOAK OFF Sheridan.
[M.]
1848. New York Exp., 21 Feb.
(Bartlett). In the House ... of ...
Representatives. The operation of CHOK-
ING OFF a speaker was very funny, and
reminded me of the lawless conduct of fight-
ing school-boys.
1864. Derby Day, p. 155. ' That
will do, mother, he said ; ' I think I have
had my five shillings' worth ' ; but the
gipsy would not be CHOKED OFF until she
had finished the patter she had learnt by
heart.
1870. London Figaro, 26 November.
The hair-oil vendor was proceeding in
this strain of eulogium on the virtues of
his particular invigorating application
when he was gently but firmly CHOKED
OFF.
1883. Graphic, July 7, p. u, col. 2.
English dealers attend these fairs with
the object of purchasing these noble-
looking animals, but prices have now
risen to £20 per head, and the English
demand is being CHOKED OFF.
Choker.
100
Chokey.
CHOKER, subs, (common). — i. A
cravat ; primarily the large neck-
erchief once worn high round the
neck. Sometimes WHITE CHOKER
(q.v. ), the white neckerchief pe-
culiar to evening dress.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Neck-
inger ; tie (this is now technical,
but was formerly a slang term);
crumpler.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Un col-
lier or cotdant ; un blave or bla-
vin ; un epiploon (students').
1848. THACKERAY, Book of Snobs,
ch. i., p. 146. The usual attire of a gen-
tleman, viz., pumps, a gold waistcoat, a
crush hat, a sham frill, and a WHITE
CHOKER.
1853. WH. MELVILLE, Digby Grand,
ch. xix. Cram oh a wrap-rascal and a
shawl CHOAKER. Never mind the gold-
laced overalls and spurs.
18."3. REV. E. BRADLEY ('Cuthbert
Bede'), Verdant Green, pt. I., p. 72. I'll
take off his CHOKER and make him easy
about the neck, and then we'll shut him
up and leave him. Why, the beggar's
asleep already.
1855. THACKERAY, Newcomesl ch. vii.
There's Mr. Brown, who oils his hair,
and weajs rings, and WHITE CHOKERS —
my eyes! such WHITE CHOKERS! — and
yet we call him the handsome snob !
1869. Orchestra, 20 August. I found
myself elbowing a fellow-countryman in a
button-up waistcoat, and WHITE CHOKER !
1871. London Figaro, 13 May, p. 3,
col. 3. ' Bill ain't hungry this morning,"
she repeated ; ' or the cove with the
WHITE CHOKER 'ud be safe to collar. But
look ! '
2. (popular). — An all-round
collar. Cf.j ALL-ROUNDER.
1869. New York Herald, 6 Sept.
' Prince Arthur in Canada.' A neat and
elegant black dress coat, closely buttoned,
pants of a light drab hue, a CHOKER
collar of enormous size, and a black silk
tile, were the garments most conspicuous
3. (common). — A garotter. —
Set WIND-STOPPER.
4. (thieves'). — A cell ; prison ;
lock up. — See CHOKEY.
1884. St. James s Gazette, Jan. 4,
p. 12, col. He preferred to go to
CHOKER.
5. (thieves'). — The hang-
man's rope or ' squeezer ' ; a hal-
ter. For synonyms, see HORSE'S
NIGHTCAP.
WHITE-CHOKER, subs, (com-
mon).— A clergyman. [In allu-
sion to the white ties worn by ' the
cloth.'] For synonyms, see DEVIL-
DODGER.
1849. Punch's Almanack. The Swell
Mobsman's Almanack. Plant about Exeter
'All, in May take old ladies on way to
'All, as they generally hempties into the
plate. The VITE CHOKERS may be fin-
gured on their way 'ome as they mostly
brings hoff a pocketful.
1852. Comic Almanack. ' Modes of
addressing persons of various ranks.' The
Clergy as a body, you will speak of as
the WHITE-CHOKERS, The lay aristocracy
are simply styled The Nobs.
CHOKERED, ppl. adj. (common).—
Wearing a CHOKER (q.v.).
1866. London Review, 7 April, p. 388,
col. 1. A whitebait waiter is admirably
CHOKERED.
CHOKEY, CHOKY, CHOKEE or
CHOKER, subs, (common). — i. A
prison. [Indian : from Hindi
chaukt, a shed, station, or lock-
up. In use from 1698 onwards
and transferred to English slang
early in the present century.]
The Queen's Bench prison has
been called the QUEEN'S CHOKEY.
For synonyms, see CAGE.
1836. MICHAEL SCOTT, Cruise of the
Midge (ed. 18), p. 107. Lord, but it's
CHOKEY !
1866. London Miscellany, March 3,
p. 58, col. i. I've jist crept out o'
CHOKEY. This is the twenty-ninth time
I've been took that way, and I'm jist
gone twenty.
CJionkeys,
101
Chop.
1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude,
ch. ii., p. 131. Both were marched off
to CHOKEE, and I have no doubt got
punished.
1877. BESANT AND RICE, This Son
ulcan, II., ch. vi., p.
this stranger, and, by God,
of the peace, and I'll
CHOKEE for a month.
. ,
of Vulcan, II., ch. vi., p. 223. Find out
this stranger, and, by God, I'm a justice
of the peace, and I'll cool his heels in
1884. Daily News, Sept. 24, p. 3,
col. i. Wright . . . would get two or
three days' CHOKY (i.e., bread and water).
2. ^ (prison). — A cell, specially
a punishment cell. For synonyms,
see CLINCH.
1889. Answers, 30 March, p. 280,
col. 2. But I am reminded that I have
not yet described that horrible institution
known as the dark cell— CHOKEY, we
convicts called it.
C MONKEYS, suds, (common). — See
quot.
ia51-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 208. CHONKEVS,
or a kind of mincemeat baked in crust.
CHOP, subs, (old).— i. A blow.
Once (in the sixteenth and seven-
teenth centuries) literary ; and still
respectable in a ' chopping ' — i.e.,
a beating ' sea. '
„ 2. An exchange ; a barter.
Cf., CHOP AND CHANGE.
1876. C. HINDLEY, Life and Ad-ven-
tures of a Cheap Jack, p. 140. I pur-
chased, or more properly speaking, had a
CHOP with a wooden bowl maker from
Chesham.
Verb (colloquial).— i. To ex-
change ; to barter : as, TO CHOP
LOGIC = to give argument for
argument ; and TO CHOP STORIES
= to * cap ' one anecdote with
another. Also to change quarters :
as ' the wind CHOPPED round to
the north.' Cf., SWAP,
1554. LA TIMER, wks, (1845), II., 433.
Shall we go about to CHOP away this
good occasion, which God offereth us.
IM.]
1693. SHADWELL, Volunteers, IV.
(1720), iv., 467. Horses that are jades . . .
may be CHOPT away or sold in Smith-
field. [M.]
1871. City Press, Jan. 21. 'Curiosities
of Street Literature.' He hangs out in
Monmouth - court. And wears a pair of
blue-black breeches, Where all the ' Polly
Cox's crew ' do resort, To CHOP their
swag for badly-printed dying speeches.
2. To eat a chop.
1841. MRS. GORE, Cecil, xx. I
would rather have CHOPPED at the ' Blue
Posts ' as I once did, fifteen years before.
[M.]
1887. SALA, Illustrated London
News, Feb. 5, 144. I went one day . . .
to CHOP at the ' Cock.' [M.]
3. (colonial). — See quot.
1871. Sheffield Telegraph, April.
West African (New Calabar) slang for
cannibalistic practice. He's CHOPPED,
i.e., he is eaten.
CHOP AND CHANGE, subs. phr.
(colloquial). — Ups and downs;
vicissitudes ; changes of fortune.
1759-67. STERN a, Tristam Shandy
[ed. 1772], I., ch. xi. [Surnames] which,
in a course of years, have generally under-
gone as many CHOPS AND CHANGES as
their owners.
1835. MARRY AT, Jacob Faithful, xvi.
At last we were all arranged . . . although
there were several CHOPS AND CHANGES
about until the order ol precedence could
be correctly observed.
1845. HOOD, To Kitchener, iii. Like
Fortune, full of CHOPS AND CHANGES.
1849-50. TH ACKER AY, Pendennis, III.,
p. 423. I have heard of all that has hap-
pened, and all the CHOPS AND CHANGES
that have taken place during my absence,
1851. MAYHEW, London Labour and
London Poor, II., 238. The accounts of
such transactions for a series of years, with
all their CHOPS AND CHANGES^
Verbal phr., trs. and; intrs.—
To barter; buy and sell; ex-
change ; change tactics ; veer
frequently from one side to the
other ; vacillate, etc.
1485. Digby Myst. (1882), v., 641. I
. . . CHOPPEANDCHAUNGEwithSymonye,
and take 'arge yiftes. [M.^
Chop- Chop.
102 Chop the Winners.
1593. G. HARVEY, Pierces Super., in
wks. II., 115. To mangle my sentences,
hack my arguments, CHOPP AND CHANGE
my phrases.
1672. WYCHERLEY, Love in a Wood.,
wks. V. (1713), 431. We have CHOP'D
AND CHANG'D, and hid our Christina's so
long, and often, that at last, we have
drawn each of us our own?
1706. E. COLES, Eng. Diet. CHOP
Church, CHANGING of one Church for
another.
1883. PRINCIPAL SHAIRP, in Good
Words, Jan., p. 27. The politicians
seemed bent on making the Church a tool
which they might CHOP AND CHANGE as
the political wind blew.
FIRST CHOP, SECOND CHOP,
etc. (q.v.}.
CHOP-CHOP, adv. (pidgin). — Im-
mediately ; quickly.
1878. JAS. PAYN, By Proxy, ch. ii.
1 Chow-chow is not fish, but food,' ex-
plained Conway, laughing, 'and CHOP-
CHOP only means directly.'
CHOPPER or CHOPPING BLOW, subs.
(pugilistic). — i. See quotation.
For synonyms, see DIG, BANG,
and WIPE.
1819. THOS. MOORE, Torn Crib's
Memorial to Congress, pref., p. 30. A
CHOPPER is a blow, struck on the face with
the back of the hand. Mendoza claims
the honour of its invention, but unjustly ;
he certainly revived, and considerably
improved it. It was practised long before
our time — Brpughton occasionally used it ;
and Slack, it also appears, struck the
CHOPPER in giving the return in many of
his battles.
2. (trade). — A sausage maker.
1865. Pall Mall Gazette, 4 Sept.,
p. 9, col. 2. I was glad to get it off to a
CHOPPER at last. . . . Dr. Letheby
explained that a CHOPPER is the trade
term for a sausage maker.
TO HAVE A CHOPPER, or BUT-
TON, o>^,phr. (printers'). — To be
miserable ; ' down in the dumps '
tfr in a fit of the ' blues.'
CHOPPING, adj. (old). — Sexually
forward ; said of girls unduly
'vain and amatorious.' [An ex-
tension in sense of CHOPPING =
strapping, thumping, bouncing,
etc.] The French express it by
avoir la cuisse gate.
CHOPPING-BLOCK, subs, (pugilistic).
—A man like a butcher's block,
i.e., who .takes an immense
amount of ' punishment ' in a
fight without the science or the
strength to return it.
CHOPS. TO LICK THE CHOPS, Mr.
(common). — See quots. [CHOPS
= the mouth, lips, jaws.] Fr.,
les jaffes.
1655. FELLOWES, tr., Milton's znd
Defence, 227. The sight of this egg . . .
caused our monarchy-men , . . to MCK
THEIR CHOPS. [M.]
1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 6. Manager.
Of course then the Tories wiU take office ?
Punch. I rayther suspect they will.
Have they not been LICKING THEIR CHOPS
for ten years outside the Treasury door
while the sneaking Whigs were helping
themselves to all the fat tit-bits within ?
DOWN IN THE CHOPS or
MOUTH, phr. (colloquial). — Sad,
melancholy. Cf.t To HAVE A
CHOPPER ON.
1830. SIR E. B. LYTTON, Paul
Clifford, p. 28, ed. 1854. ' Vy, Paul, my
kid, you looks DOWN IN THE CHOPS ;
cheer up, care killed a cat.'
1868. BREWER, Phrase and Fable.
DOWN IN THE CHOPS — i.e., down in the
mouth ; in a melancholy state ; with the
mouth drawn down. Chop or chap is
Saxon for mouth ; we still say a pig's
chap.
CHOP THE WHINERS, verbal phr.
(thieves'). — To say prayers.
[From an extended use of
CHOP in the sense of to
bandy words — hence to speak +
WHINERS (q.v.), prayers.] Fr.,
matiger sa paillasse.
Ckortle.
Chouse.
1830. BULWER LYTTON, Paul
Clifford, p. 2, ed. 1854. I tells you, I vent
first to Mother Bussblour's, who, I knows,
CHOPS THE WHINERS morning and evening
to the young ladies, and I axes there for a
Bible, and she says, says she, ' I 'as only
a Companion to the //alter ! but you'll get
a Bible, I think at Master Talkins the
cobbler as preaches.'
1857. Punch, 31 Jan. For them
coves in Guildhall and that blessed Lord
Mayor, Prigs on their four bones should
CHOP WHINERS I swear.
CHORTLE, verb (popular). — To
chuckle ; to laugh in one's sleeve ;
to 'snort.' [Introduced by
Lewis Carrol in Through the Look-
ing Glass. — See quot.]
1872. LEWIS CARROL, Through
Looking Glass, i. ' O frabjous day !
Callooh ! Callay!' He CHORTLED in his
joy. .
1876. BESANT AND RICE, Golden
Butterfly, xxxii., 242. It makes the
cynic and the worldly-minded man to
chuckle and CHORTLE with an open joy.
1887. Athena-urn, 3 Dec., p. 751,
col. i. A means of exciting cynical
CHORTLING.
1888. Daily News, 10 Jan., p. 5,
col. 2. So may CHORTLE the Anthropo-
phagi. [M.]
CHOSEN TWELVE. — See APOSTLES.
CHOUSE, subs, (colloquial). — I. A
trick ; swindle ; sham ; or ' SELL '
(q.v.}. [From CHOUSE, a cheat,
trickster, or swindler, through
the verb. The derivation is thus
discussed and weighed by Dr.
Murray : 'As to the origin of
the Eng. use, Gifford (1814), in
a note on the quot. from Ben
Jonson, says, ' In 1609, Sir
Robt. Shirley sent a messenger
or CHIAUS to this country, as his
agent from the Grand Signior
and the Sophy to transact some
preparatory business.' The lat-
ter ' CHIAUSED the Turkish and
Persian merchants of ,£4,000,'
and decamped. But no trace of
this incident has yet been found
outside of Gifford's note ; it was
unknown to Peter Whalley, a
previous editor of Ben Jonson,
1756 ; also to Skinner, Ilenshaw,
Dr. Johnson, Todd, and others
who discussed the history of the
word. Yet most of these re-
cognised the likeness of CHOUSE
to the Turkish word, which
Henshaw even proposed as the
etymon on the ground that the
Turkish CHIAUS * is little better
than a fool.' Gifford's note
must therefore be taken with re-
serve.'] The word is also used
at Eton in this sense, but see
sense 2, which is the commoner.
Variously spelt CHIAUS, CHEWS,
SHOWSE, GHOWSE, and CHOUSE.
1610. BEN JONSON, Alchymist, I.,
ii., 25. ' D. What do you think of ire?
That I am a CHIAUSE ? Face. What's
that? D. The Turk [who] was here. As
one would say, doe you think I am a
Turke ? '
1639. FORD, Lady's Trial, II., i.
Gulls, or Moguls, Tag, rag, or other,
hogen-mogen, vanden, Skip-jacks, or
CHOUSES.
1672. WYCHERLEY, Love in a Wood,
I., i., wks. (1713), 343. You are no better
than a CHOUSE, a cheat.
1673. WYCHERLEY, Gent. Dane. Mas-
ter, III., in wks. (1713), 295. Headancing-
master, he's a CHOUSE, a cheat, a meer
cheat.
1754. B. MARTIN, Eng. Diet. (2 ed.).
2. (Eton College). — A shame';
an imposition.
1864. Atheneeum. When an Eton
boy says that anything is ' a beastly
CHOUSE,' he means that it 5s a great
shame ; and when an Eton peripatetic
tradesman is playful enough to call his
customer 'a little CHOUSER,' he means that
a leaf has been taken out of his own book
by one on whom he has practised.
1883. BRINSLEY RICHARDS, Seven
Years at Eton. The boy . . . was told
that what he had done was an awful
CHOUSfi.
Cliout.
104
Christen.
Verb (colloquial).— To cheat.
[For suggested derivation, see
subs., sense I.] Synonyms will
be found under STICK.
1659. SHFRLEY, Honoria and Mam.,
II., iii. We are in a fair way to be ridic-
ulous . . . CHIAUS'D by a scholar ! [M.]
1663. PEPYS, Diary, May 15. The
Portugalls have CHOUSED us, it seems, in
the Island of Bombay, in the East Indys.
1708. CENTLIVRE, Busie Body, Act
iii. You and my most conscionable
Guardian here . . . plotted and agreed,
to CHOUSE a very civil, honest, honour-
able gentleman, out of a Hundred Pound.
1742-4. ROGER NORTH, Lives of the
Norths, I., 90. The judge held them to
it, and they were CHOUSED of the treble
value.
1823. Hints for Oxford, p. 26, Every-
thing in common use at Oxford, with
the exception, perhaps, of books, is
charged at an exorbitant rate ; and, what
is worse , , . you are often having your-
self CHOUSED with abominable trash.
1890. Academy, Feb. 22, p. 125, col.
i. Susan Burney's letters, with charming
naivete, confess that, in the expectation
of an early visit from the delightful
mimic, she for four mornings was up at
seven o'clock, only to find herself, bor-
rowing the slang phrases of the day,
' CHOUSED, for he nlck'd us entirely, and
never came at all.'
So alsq CHOUSED, ppL q4j.>
CHOUSING, verbal subs., and
CHOUSER, subs,
CHOUT, subs. (East London), — An
entertainment. — flatten.
CHOVEY, subs, (costermongers5).— -
A shop. A shopman is known
amongst the fraternity as a MAN-
CHOVEY, and a shop<-woman a$
ANN-CHOVEY.
1857. SNOWDEN, Mag. Assistant
a ed.X 444- A shop— CHOVEV.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Une
boutogue (thieves') ; une boutanche
(thieves') ; un boucard (thieves') ;
un rade or radeatt (thieves') : also
primarily, a till.
GERMAN SYNONYM. Chenwene
(a market stall, the stock itself,
or a box full of goods; Chmwener,
the owner of such a place — a
merchant or shop-keeper).
CHOW, subs, (theatrical). — Talk;
' lip ' ; jaw ; e.g., to have ' plenty
of CHOW' = to have a good deal
to say.
Verb (theatrical). — To talk
incessant jyj tp grumble. A
variant is to CHIP. [CHOW is
apparently a form of ' chew,' now
fallen into desuetude.]
CHOWDER-HEADED, adj. (Ameri-
can). — Stupid. [The term
though only dialectical in Eng-
land is pretty general in U.S.A.
It is given by Murray as a variant
Of CHOLTER-HEADED, which in
turn is another form for jolt or
JOLTER-HEADED. Chowder is
properly a kind of hotch-potch,
and applied to the intellectuals
would imply ' confusedness,' and
hence idiocy.]
1819. SCOTT, Lett., 15 April, in
Lockhart. I hesitate a little about Raeburn
. . . [he] has twice already made a very
CHOWDER-HEADED person of me.
1851. H. MELVILLE, Whale,™., 73.
What's that stultifying saying about
CHOWDER-HEADED people? [M].
18(7). S. L. CLEMENS ('Mark
Twain ')i Launch of the Steamer ' Capital'
The Showman . . . grabbed the orchestra
and shook him up, and says, ' That lets you
out, you CHOWDER-HEADED old clam.'
CHRISTEN, verb (thieves') — i. To
erase the markings from a
watch, and substitute a fictitious
inscription, with a view to
preventing identification. An
Old Cant variant was TO
CHURCH (q.v.}, the derivation
being analogous. French thieves,
in speaking of a CHRISTENED
watch or other ' f#ked' silver,
use fpjwfrf.
Christian.
105
Chuck.
1781. G. PARKER, View of Society, II.,
74. This alteration is called CHRISTEN-
ING, and the watch thus transformed
faces the world without fear of detection.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
1857. SNOWDEN, Mag. Assistant, 3
ed. , p. 444. To alter the maker's name in a
watch — to CHRISTEN a yack.
1868. DORAN, Saint and Sinn., II.,
290. The pietist thieves . . . CHRISTEN
daily as soon as they have stolen a watch.
This thieves' CHRISTENING consists in
erasing the maker's name and supplying
another. [M.]
1872. Standard, ' Middlesex Sessions
Report.' William Miller, the detective
officer in the case, being called upon by the
judge to state what he knew of the prisoner,
said he knew him by his trade as a baker,
but he mixed up with watch thieves an,d
housebreakers, and the tools found in his
possession he used for CHRISTENING stolen
watches and putting new bows to them.
2. (colloquial). — To mix water
with wine ; to mix liquors
generally. Fr., Maquiller le
•vitriol = to, adulterate brandy ;
monter sur le tanneau (vinters'
= to add water to a cask of
wine). A Spanish equivalent is
exactly translated b.autizarel vino.
TO DROWN THE MILLER (q.V.)t
= to add too much water.
1824. SCQTT, Redgauntlet, let. xiii.
We'll CHRISTEN him with the brewer
(here he added a little small beer to his
beverage).
3. (low).— To souse from a
chamber utensil.
4. (common). — To take a
dram ; or • do a drain,' in cele-
bration of something, as the pur-
chase of a new pair of boots, a
removal, etc.
CHRISTIAN, subs, (common).— A
good fellow ; a decent or pre-
sentable person. [A human being as
distinguished from the brute crea-
tion, in which sense it is used by
Shakspeare ; the modern slang
usage was apparently introduced
by Dickens.] — See quots. in
various senses.
1595. SHAKSPEARE, Two Gentlemen
of Verona, Act iii., Sc. i, 272. Thee
hath more qualities than a Water-Spaniell,
which is much in a bare CHRISTIAN.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, CHRIS-
TIAN : a tradesman who has faith, i.e.,
will give credit.
1843. DICKENS, Martin Chuzzlewit,
xxxiv. You must take your passage like
a CHRISTIAN ; at least, as like a CHRIS-
TIAN as a fore-cabin passenger can.
1859. Times, 20 April. Grey parrot
for sale, the property of a lady. She talks
like a CHRISTIAN, and is in first-rate con-
d,Uion,. Price, including cage. ,£15. Apply,
etc., etc.
Adj. (common). — Decent; res-
pectable, etc. — [See subs.]
QHRISTIAN PONY, subs. phr. (old
Irish slang). — The chairman or
president of a meeting.
CHRISTIANS, subs. pi. (Cambridge
Univ.). — Members of Christ's
College. — [Of obvious deriva-
tion.]
CHRISTM AS, PHRISTMASSING, .»/£.?.
and verbal subs, (colloquial). —
Holly and mistletoe.
1836. C. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers,
p. 228 (ed. 1857). The fat boy pointed to
the destination of the pies. ' Wery good,'
said Sam, 'stick a bit o' CHRISTMAS in
'em.'
1851. H. MAYHEW, Lon. Lab. and
Lon. P.oor, vol. I., p. 141. In London a
large trade is carried on in CHRISTMASING,
or in the sale of holly and mistletoe for
Christmas sports and decorations. . . .
'Look,' said a gardener to me., 'what's
spent on a CHRISTMASING the churches !'
CHUCK, subs, (prison), — I. Bread;
" meat ; in fact, refreshment of
any kind.
1850. Lloyds Newspaper, Oct. 6.
' Inquest on murder of Rev. Mr. Holiest,
Frimley Grove, Surrey.' Macey, the
\illnge cqnstabje, stated that the' prisqner,
Chuck.
1 06
Chuck.
upon coming to his cottage door had tried
hard to get some CHUCK out of him, but
had failed.
1877. Five Years Penal Servitude,
ch. i., p. 4. Two large slices of bread,
. . . the allowance given out to some
prisoner who . . . had forgotten to eat
what in prison slang is called his ' toke '
or CHUCK.
1877. S. L. CLEMENS ('Mark Twain ')
Life on the Mississippi, ch. Hi., p. 463. i
wish i was nere you so i could send you
CHUCK (refreshments) on holidays.
2. (common). — Scraps of
meat; BLOCK ORNAMENTS (g.v.).
For synonyms, see DUCK.
1871. Echo, ii Dec. ' Sunday amongst
the Silk Weavers.' Few regular butchers
ply their trade on Sunday morning —
money is only to be made by the vendors
of nauseous substitutes for whplespme
meat — the refuse portion of beef and
mutton, tough, coarse, and meagre pork,
flaccid tripe, lean little sheeps' CHUKS, as
•the natives call thepi, the savourless
saveloy of Old England.
1887. Standard, 20 Jan. 'The Poor
at Market.' From a sort of ludicrous
spirit of snobbery a labourer wil} term a
fellow he dislikes a • beggap who gats
CHUCK,' CHUCK being a Iqw-priced part of
the carcase.
3. (Billingsgate). — See quot,
1851-61. MAYHEW, London Lab. apd
Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 73. Sprats . . . are
sold at Billingsgate by the ' toss,1 or
CHUCK, which is about half a bushel, apd
weighs about 40 Ibs. to 50 Ibs.
4. (colloquial). — A toss or
throw.
1883. Punch, June 2, p. 264, col. i.
The average number of CHUCKS at cocoa-
nuts before achieving success is six.
5. (nautical). — Sea biscuit.
Cf., senses i and 6. A sailor's
variant is ' chow-dow. '
1864. Standard, 13 Dec. Of naval
slang Mr. Hotten has missed the words
CHUCK, used by sailors for biscuit, and
BARGE, the box or cask in which the CHUCK
is kept by the messes on the lover deck.
6. (military). — Mealy bread.
C/., nautical usage, sense 5.
7. Westminster School). — A
schoolboy's treat.
1864. HOTTEN, Slang Diet., p. 101,
s.v.
Verb( colloquial). — i. To throw;
especially to throw away ; to
pitch.
1593. Prodigal Son, iv., 112. Yes,
this old one will 1 give you (CHUCKS him
old hose and doublet). [M.]
1627. DRAYTON, Agincourt, 63. In
the Tauerne, in his cups doth rore,
CHOCKING his crownes. [M.]
1753. Adventurer, No. 43. I ...
was kicked about, hustled, tossed up, and
CHUCKED into holes.
1771. SMOLLETT., Humphry Clinker,
1. 36. Dirt and trash CHUCKED into it by
roguish boys for the joke's sake.
_1820. Co9M BE, Dr. Syntax, tour 1 1. ,
ch. i. Yes, faith, as I've a soul to save,
I will for pqthing dig her grave ; Yes, I
would do it too as willing As if her hand
had CHUCK'P a shilling,
1836. DICKENS, Pickwick, ch. xxxix.,
p. 342. I'm not only ready but villin' to
do anythin' as'll make matters agreeable ;
and if CHUCKIN' either o' them sawbonesses
out of winder u'll do it, I'm the man.
1851. H. MAYHEW, Lon. Lab. and
Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 150. Many a time
I walked through the streets and picked a
piece of bread that the servants CHUCKED
out of the door.
1864. DICKENS, Our Mutual Friend,
bk. IV., ch. i. ' When you're ready for
your snooze,' said the honest creature,
' CHUCK yourself on my bed in the corner.'
2. (vagrants'). — To eat. —See
subs,, sense I. For synonyms,
see QRUB.
1876. HJNDLEY, Life and Adventures
of a Cheap Jack, p. 192. Mo and his
man were having a great breakfast one
morning . . . Mo exclaimed to his man,
' CHUCK rumbo (eat plenty), my lad.'
3. (pigeon fanciers'). — To des-
patch a pigeon. Cf., sense I,
and To CHUCK IT ; also HARD
CHUCK.
4. (general). — To spend ex-
travagantly. For synonyms, see
DUCKS AND DRAKES.
Chuck.
107
Chuck a Stall.
>9. Daily Telegraph, 6 Sept. ' Sea-
Baden.' Why is it that English-
1876. BESANT AND RICE, Golden
Butterfly, ch. xviii. Next to unlimited
CHUCKING of his own money, the youthful
Englishman would like — what he never
gets — the unlimited CHUCKING of other
people's.
5. (old). — To desire (sexu-
ally); to be 'warm,' or a HOT
MEMBER (q.V.).
TOCHUCK, CHUCK IT,Or CHUCK
UP, verbal phr. To abandon ;
4 turn up ' ; dismiss ; turn out of
doors ; to give up. Also CHUCK
IT UP =' drop it.' [From the
custom of throwing up the sponge
. at a prize fight in sign of defeat.
Often corrupted into JACK UP. —
See SPONGE. A French equiva-
lent is laisser tout en plan.
1869.
son at
women can never combine their colours,
or put on their clothes ? Are their maids
used to haymaking when at home, and do
they ' pitch ' on the petticoats, and give
three cheers and have beer when they
finish the work by CHUCKING UP the
dress ?
1883. HAWLEY SMART, Hard Lines,
ch, xxvi. 'But herej Cis, if you mean
business, take my advice and CHUCK that
corps.'
1883. Miss RRADDOH , Phantom For-
tune, ch. xxv. She knows on which side
her bread is buttered. Look how easily
she CHUCKED you UP because she did not
think you good enough.
TO GET or GIVE THE CHUCK,
phr. — rTo dismiss, or be dismissed,
C/., BAG and SACK.
1889. Sporting Times [quoted in
Slang, Jargon, and Cant\. And I shall
GET THE blooming CHUCK as well as
fourteen days.
CHUCK UP THE SPONGE. — See
SPONGE.
To CHUCK [ONESELF] ABOUT
or INTO, phr. — To move expe-
ditiously. For synonyms, see
AMPUTATE and SKEDADDLE.
Also, to fall into.
I860. Funny Fellow, 7 May, p. i.
Hollo, my kiddy, stir your stumps, And
CHUCK YOURSELF ABOUT.
CHUCK HER up,///r. (cricket).
— An expression of delight.
[From the practice of throwing
the ball into the air after a suc-
cessful catch.]
[The verb, TO CHUCK, is attached in
an active sense to any number of objec-
tives, and may be taken as equivalent
to ' to perform ' or ' do. ' Thus ' to chuck
a fag ' = to 'give a beating ' ; to ' chuck a
turd = to 'rear,' to evacuate ; to ' chuck a
tread ' = to have intercourse ; to ' chuck
a jolly ' = to undertake a bout of chaff ; to
' chuck a fit ' = to have an epileptic, or
apoplectic, seizure ; to ' chuck a cram ' or
' a kid' = to lie, etc.J
HARD-CHUCK (pigeon fan-
ciers').— A long distance ; also a
trying flight. From Gravesend
to London is considered a HARD-
CHUCK, as the low, flat country
is bare of landmarks.
CHUCK A CURLY, verbal phr. (mili-
tary).— To feign sickness ; to
malinger. [For possible deriva-
tion, see general remarks on
CHUCK, in a preceding paragraph,
+ CURLY, ' doubling up,' or
writhing, as in pain.]
CHUCK A JOLLY, verbal phr. (coster-
mongers'). — To bear up or ' bon-
net ' : as when a costermonger
praises the inferior article his
mate or partner is trying to sell.
This process is usually commenced
with a CHI-IKE (q.v.). Also to
undertake a bout of chaff.
CHUCK ASTALL,zw/5/^r. (thieves').
— To attract a person's attention
while a confederate picks his
pockets, or otherwise robs him.
[STALL = an accomplice; and as a
verb, to keep watch or spy upon. ]
1884. GREENWOOD, Seven Years'
Penal Servitude. I said to my pal ' CHUCK
ME A STALL and I'll have that.' What
Chucked.
1 08
Chucker-Out.
did I mean ? Why, keep close to me, and
cover what I'm doing.
CHUCKED. To BE CHUCKED or
CHUCKED UP, verbal phr.
(thieves'). — I. To escape com-
mittal ; to be acquitted or re-
leased.
1887. HORSLEY, Jottings from Jail,
Rit from 7 dials ; remanded innocent
on two charges of pokes, only out 2 weeks
for a drag, expects to be fullied or else
CHUCKED.
1889. Evening News [quoted in Slangy
Jargon, and Cant, p. 251, col. i]. When
I was CHUCKED UP they took me to an old
Jew's in Dudley Street for my clothes.
1889. Answers, 9 Feb. He was for-
tunate enough to get CHUCKED, to escape,
that is to say, as the evidence against him
was not strong enough.
2. (common). — [Generally
CHUCKED OUT.] To be forcibly
ejected. [From CHUCK, Vfro,
sense I, + ED + OUT.] £/".,
CHUCKER-OUT.
3. (common). — Slightly in-
toxicated. For synonyms see
SCREWED.
1889. Ally Slopers Half-Holiday,
Aug. 17, p. 258, col. 2. His back being
nearly broken from your constantly falling
over him when you've been CHUCKED.
4. (prostitutes'). — Amorous ;
and hence ' fast. ' French, gal-
oper une femme = to make hot
love to a woman. Cf., MOL-
ROWER.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. S'allurner
or allumer son petrole or son gaz
(the first of these terms is in
general use, the others being em-
ployed chiefly by prostitutes);
battre du beurre (popular : used
more in the sense of ' to be fast,'
but also = to speculate on 'Change
and to dissemble).
GERMAN SYNONYM. Spannen
(to ogle prostitutes ; to way-
lay women in order to make:
overtures ; generally to lear
with concupiscence).
SPANISH SYNONYMS. Apacen-
tar (properly to tend cattle) ;
desbeber ( also = to make
water) ; despepitarse (literally to
give a loose to one's tongue or to
act imprudently) ; rabanillo (m —
an ardent longing).
5. (common).— To be disappoin-
ted ; put out in one's calculations ;
put to shame ; ' sold.'
c. 1879. Broadside Ballad. ' CHUCKED
again.' CHUCKED again, CHUCKED again !
Whatever may happen I get all the blame,
Wherever I go, it is always the same —
Jolly well CHUCKED again !
CHUCKED-IN, adv. phr. (popular).
- Into the bargain. Cf.,
LAGNIAPPE. [From CHUCK,
sense I, + ED + IN.]
1880. Punch, No. 2055, p. 245.
Happy thought ! CHUCKED IN an extra
chapter on Literature.
1884. Punch, Oct. n. ' 'Any at a
Political Picnic.' Went to one on 'em
yesterday, Charlie ; a regular old up and
down lark. The Pallis free gratis, mixed
up with a old country fair in a park, And
Rosherville Gardens CHUCKED IN.
CHUCKER, subs, (cricketers'). — I.
A volunteer who does not keep
a promise to play.
2. A bowler who throws the
ball.
CHUCKER-OUT, subs, (colloquial).—
A man retained to eject or
* chuck out ' from public meetings,
taverns, brothels, and hells. —See
quot., i8£o.
1880. Punch, No. 2040, p. 63. Lord
Grey was about to resume his role of
CHUCKER-OUT to the proposed measures of
his own party.
1883. Saturday Review, March 31,
p. 398, col. i. We hired a smiling but stal-
wart assistant to act in the capacity of
CHUCKER-OUT.
Chuck- Farthing.
Chuck the Dummy.
1884. Good Words, June, p. 400, col.
1. He had done twelve months [in prison]
for crippling for life the CHUCKER-OUT of
one of these pubs. [M.]
1885. All the Year Round, Nov.,
^226. Dens to which Brickey is attached
in the capacity of CHUCKER-OUT. [M.]
1887. Guardian, 2 March, p. 343,
col. i. Bogus meetings, where the chair-
man, committee, reporters; audience, and
CHUCKERS-OUT were all subsidised. [M.]
1890. The Scots Observer, p. 394, col.
2. The result of which was the resolution
to appoint a body of CHUCKERS-OUT to
keep delegates in order, and to show the
Commons what to do with its Healys and
its Tanners.
C HUCK-FARTH ING, CHUCK, CHUCK-
AND-TOSS, Or PlTCH-AND-TOSS,
subs. phr. (common). — Games
played with money, which is
PITCHED at a line, gathered,
shaken in the hands, and TOSSED
up into the air so as to fall
' heads and tails ' until the stakes
are guessed away. A parish
clerk was formerly nicknamed a
CHUCK-FARTHING.
1690. B.E., Diet. Cant. Crew. CHUCK
FARTHING : a Parish Clerk (in the Satyr
against Hypocrites) also a Play among
Boies.
Ballad-Singers, were as busie at CHUCK-
FARTHING and Hussle-Cap, as so many
Rooks at a gaming Ordinary.
1712. Spectator, No. 509. The un-
lucky boys with toys and balls were whipped
away by a beadle, I have seen this done
indeed of late, but then it has been only to
chase the lads from CHUCK, that the
beadle might seize their copper.
1759. STERNE, Tristram Shandy, vol.
I., ch. x. The spinning-wheel forgot its
round, — even CHUCK - FARTHING and
shuffle-cap themselves stood gaping till he
had got out of sight.
1821. CLARE, Vill. Minstr., I., 174.
With CHUCK and marbles wearing Sunday
through.
1851. MAYHEW, Lon. Lab. and Lon.
Poor, II., p. 398. They frequently had
halfpence given to them. They played
also at CHUCK AND TOSS with the journey-
men, and of course were stripped of every
farthing.
c. 1868. 'BKOVGK, Field of the Cloth of
Gold. From PITCH-AND-TOSS to man-
slaughter's my game.
1878. M. E. BRADDON, Cloven Foot,
ch. xlii. ' I remember when I was a little
chap, at Dr Prossford's grammar school,
playing CHUCK-FARTHING.'
1888. Illus. London News, Summer
Number, p. 26, col. i. Having replaced
the musty documents upon the shelf, that
ingenious youth adjourned to indulge in
the passionately exhilarating game of
CHUCK-FARTHING.
CHUCK IN, verb (pugilistic). — To
challenge. — [From the custom
of throwing a hat into the
ring ; a modern version of
throwing down the gauntlet.
Also, ' to compete ' ; e.g. , I shall
have a CHUCK IN = ' I shall try
my luck ' — with a woman, a raffle,
a personal encounter, and so on.
CHUCKING-OUT, suds, (popular). —
Ejection. [From CHUCK, verb,
sense i, through CHUCK UP (qw.)t
+ ING + OUT.] Also as an adj.
1881. Sportsman, Jan. 31, p: 3 col.
5. We were the first to take the part of the
1887. Pall Mall Gaz. , Feb. 23, p. 1 1 ,
col. i. Evictions in Glenbeigh . . ; and
CHUCKINGS-OUT in London. [M.]
1887. G. R. SIMS, How the Poor Live,
p. 83. It is fair to say that the youths
seemed quite ready for the emergency, and
took their CHUCKING-OUT most skilfully.
CHUCKS 1 intj. (school). — A boy's
signal on a master's approach*
A French schoolboy's equivalent
is Vesse !
CHUCK THE DUMMY, verbal phr.
(thieves'). — To feign sickness,
especially epilepsy ; a common
dodge in prisons to get an order
for the infirmary.
Chuff It.
1 10
Chum.
CHUFF IT I itttj. (common). — Be off!
Take it away ! For synonyms,
set HOOKEY WALKER !
CH«L or CHULL, verb (Anglo-In-
dian).— See quot:
1886. G; A. SALA, in ///. L. News,
June 19, p. 644. In Calcutta CHUL is a
word that you hear fifty times a day. A
lady tells you that her new Ayah will not
CHUL at all ; thfe proprietor of that popular
weekly journal; the Hooghly Dacoit . . :
tells you that he is going home for six
months ; but that he has ah able editor,
and that the paper will CHUL very well
during his absence. The CHUL, I appre-
hend, means to go on; to proceed, to do.
CHUM, subs-, (colloquial). —A close
companion j a bosom friend ; an
intimate. Formerly a chamber-
fellow or mate; [Johnson calls
it a term used in the Universi-
ties, and the earliest quot. seems
to bear hint out. The deriva-
tion is unceitain, and Dr. Murray
says ' no historical proof connect^
ing it with " chamber-felldw " or
' ' chamber - mate " has been
found.']
1684; CREECH, Theocritus, Idyll 'Sill:
Ded. to my CHUM, Mr. Hody of Wadham
College. [M.]
1690. B. E., Diet. Cant. Crew.
CHUM: a Chamber - fellow^ or constant
Companion.
1714. Spectator, No. 6*7. Letter
written by University man to a friend
begins ' Dear CHUM.'
c. 1750. Humours of the Fleet, quot; in
Ashton's Eighteenth Century Waifs, p.
249. When you have a CHUM, you pay but
fit teen pence per week each.
1828-45; T. HOOD, Poems, vol. II., p.
201 (ed. 1846). The very CHUM that shared
my cake Holds out so cold a hand to shake
It makes me shrink and sigh.
1855. THACKERAY, Neivcomes, ch. v.j
The Colonel, as has been stated, had an
Indian CHUM or companion, with whom
he shared his lodgings;
1889. Fall Mall Gazette, Nov. 21,
p. 6, col. 2. His [Allingham's] own chosen
friend was Dante Gabriel Rossetti, his
CHUMS the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Gossip ;
pal ; pard (American) ; marrow
(north - country) ; cully (theatri-
cal) ; cummer ; ben cull ; butty ;
bo' (nautical) ; mate or matey ;
ribstonej bloater;
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Une
branche (literally a branch or
bough) } uti amar or amarre
(thieves', Cf.^ amarre^ a cable,
rope, hawser) ; un aminche,
aminchemar^ or aminchemince
(thieves' : aminche d>af '= an ac-
coniplice or stallsman) ; amis
comme mchoiis (popular, m. pi. :
literally 'as thick as pigs;' C/i, AS
THICK AS THIEVES); un matelot ;
uite coterie (popular) ; tin bon at-
telage (cavalry = a couple of good
friends ; literally ' a good team ') ;
un artiste_ (popular) ; tin camer-
luche or camarluche (popular) ;
vieux frtre la cdte (sailors') ; uh
camaro ; une fat idole (prostitutes'
= a female pal) ; un fanande, or
fanandel (thieves').
GEftMAN SYNONYMS: Gleither
(also ' a brother ') ; Kineh or
Kinehbruaer (Viennese thieves' :
German thieves use Kinne ; from
the Hebrew Kinnim, ' a louse ' ;
Kinriemachler, literally ' lice
eater ' = a dirty, filthy fellow ;
also = a miser. Kinimer = a
man full of lice)*
ITALIAN SYNONYMS. Furbo
= ' an imposter, rogue, or
sharper ') ; foneo ; calcagno ; guidoy
or guidone (literally a ' guide.'
Also a 'dog' or 'beggar').
SPANISH SYNONYMS* Cirinco
(m) ; compinche (m).
PORTUGUESE SYNONYM. Filhos
do Golpe (literally 'children of
the crowd \.
Chum.
\\\
2. (military). — A brother-in-
arms.
1890. RUDYARD KIPLING. Plain
Tales (srd ed.), p- 264. Oh ! where would
I be when my froat was dry ? Oh ! where
would I be when the bullets fly? Oh!
where would I be when I came to die?
Why, Somewheres anigh my CHUM.
Verb, trs. and intrs. (colloquial).
— To occupy a joint lodging, or
share expenses ; to be on the
closest terms of intimacy with
another j to be ' thick as thieves ' ;
or ' thick as hops. ' French slang
has etre dans la chemise de
quelqtfun ; also fare du dernier
bien avec quelq^£un.
1730. WESLEY, Wks. (1872) XII., 20.
There are . . . some honest fellows in
College, who would be willing to CHUM
in one of them. [M.]
1762. CHURCHILL, The Ghost, \>\i. II.
Old Maids and Rakes are join'd together.
Coquettes and Prudes, like April weather.
Wits forc'd to CHUM with Common Sense.
1836. C. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers,
p. 339 (ed. 1857). 'Why I don't rightly
know about to night,' replied the stout
turnkey. ' You'll be CHUMMED on .some-
body to-morrow, and then you'll be all
snug and comfortable:'
1864. Temple Bar, Nov., p. 587. We
choose our own carriages, and either leave
our fellow trippers altogether, or, making
a selection, CHUM in parties of three or
four.
1871; MORTIMER COLLINS, Mrq. and
Merck., II., v., 143. She . . . found her-
self CHUMMED upon a young person who
turned out to be ... a ... slattern. [M.]
1877. BESANT AND Rick, With Harp
and Crown, ch. xii. Here are City clerks,
who, by CHUMMING together, are able to
afford one festive evening in the week at
the Oxford;
NEW CHUM, subs. (Australian).
— A new arrival in the colony }
a 'greenhorn'; or 'tenderfoot.'
For general synonyms, see
SNOOKER;
1861. EARLES, UJ>s and Downs of
Australian Life, p. 199. 'I suppose you're
a stranger, or as we calls 'em, a NEW
CHUM, ain't you?'
1886. E. WAKEFIELD, Nineteenth
Century, Aug., p. 173. In these colonies
[Australia], where pretty nearly every one
has made several sea voyages, that subject
is strictly tabooed in all rational society.
To dilate upon it is to betray a NEW CHUM.
1889. Town and Country, 16 Feb.
'Answers to Correspondents.' NEW
CHUM (Forbes) :— The first instalment will
be due, etc.
CHUMMAGE, subs. (old). — Money
procured by the practice of
chumming together ; but various
extensions of meaning appear to
have been in vogue at different
periods. — See quots. [The prao
tice alluded to in quot. 1777, was
the rough music made with pokers,
tongs, sticks, and saucepans, for
Which oVation the initiated pri-
soner had to pay or ' fork out ' a
certain suhi of money, or submit
to being deprived of its equivalent
from among his personal effects ;
otherwise called CHtMMiNG UP.]
1777. HOWARD, State of Prisons in
England and Wtiles, quoted in J. Ashton's
The Fleet, p. 295. A cruel custom obtains
in most of our Gaols, which is that of the
prisoners demanding of a hew comer GAR-
NISH, FOOTING, or (as it is called in some
London Gaols) CHUMMAGfe.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue.
CHUMMAGE : money paid by the richer sort
of prisoners in the Fleet and King's Bench
to tht? poorer for their share of a room . . ;
A prisoner who can pay for being alohe^
chooses two poor chums, who for a stipu-
lated price, called CHUMMAGE, give up
their share of the room.
1836. DICKENS, Pitkwick, xlii. the
regular CHUMMAGE is two-and-sixpence.
18,59. G. A. SALA, Twice Round the
Clock (1861), 103. 1 he time-honoured sys-
tem of CHUMVAGE, or quartering two or
more collegians in one room, and allowing
the richest to pay his companions a stipu-
lated sum to go out and find quarters
elsewhere.
Also used as an adjective.
1836. DICKENS, Pickwick, ch. xlii.,
p. 364. You'll have a CHUMMAGE ticket
upon twenty-seven in the third, and them
as is in the room will be your chums*
Chummery.
M2
Chump.
CHUMMERY, subs, (common^. —
Chumhood ; also the quarters
occupied by 'chums.' [From
CHUM + ERY ; cf.y ROOKERY,
SNUGGERY, &C.].
1877. BESANT AND RICE. Son of
Vulcan, p. 196. Jack and her father lived
in bachelor CHUMMERY.
CHUMMY, subs, (colloquial). — I; A
chimney-sweep's climbing boy. [A
corruption of ' chimney ' through
* chumley. ']
1835. DICKENS, Sketches by Boz, p.
169. Vereas he 'ad been a CHUMMY — he
begged the cheerman's parding for using
such a vulgar hexpression, etc.
1844. THACKERAY, Greenwich, wks.
(1886) XXIII., 380. The hall . . was
decorated with banners and escutcheons of
deceased CHUM MIES. [M.]
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
andLond. Poor, vol. II., p. 417. A CHUM-
MY (once a common name for the climbing-
boy, being a corruption of chimney).
1859. W. GREGORY, Egypt, I., 154.
His shrill voice, high up aloft, like a
CHUMMY'S on a London summer morn.
IM.]
2. A diminutive form of CHUM
1864. GILBERT, Bab Ballads, Eti-
quette. Old CHUMMIES at the Charter-
house were Robinson and he. [M.]
3. (common).— Alow-crowned
felt hat; For synonyms, see GOL-
GOTHA;
Adj. (colloquial). — Very inti-
mate ; friendly ; sociable. The
analogous French terms are chou-
ette\ chouettard', ckouettaud.
1884. Harpers Magazine, Sept., p.
536 col. 2. I . . saw them form into
small CHUMMY groups. [M.]
1888. W. BESANT, Herr Paulus, bk.
III., ch. xi., vol. III., p. 204. I liked the
fellow, I confess, and we got CHUMMY in
the evenings.
1889. Answers, May n, p. 380. When
I was at Pentonville, a man in the same
ward, who had got rather CHUMMY with
hi s warder, asked him to post a letter to
his friends in Manchester.
CHUMP, subs, (common). — i. A
blockhead.
1883. HAVVLEY SMART, At Fault
II., i., 29. Such a long-winded old CHUMP
at telling a story one don't often see,
thank goodness.
1887. Pall Mall Gazette, 2 Feb.,
p. ip. col. i. Frank audibly remarked :
'This man is a CHUMP. I could go ...
this minute arid do better than that.' [M.]
2. (popular). — A variant of
CHUM, subs. (q:i>.). French ma
meille branche — my old chump.
1884. Punch, n Oct. ' 'Any at a
Political Picnic.' All my Saturday arfs
are devoted to Politics. Fancy, old
CHUMP, Me doing the sawdusty reglar,
and follering swells oh the stump.
3. (popular). — The head ;
especially in the phrase OFF
ONE'S CHUMP (q.v.). For syno-
nyms, see CRUMPET.
CHUMP-OF- WOOD, subs. phr.
(rhyming slang). — No good. Also
a blockhead.
OFF ONE'S CHUMP, phr. (vul-
gar).—Insane. Cf., OFF ONE'S
HEAD, NUT, etc. For synonyms,
see APARTMENTS.
c. I860. Broadside Ballad, ' We are
a merry family.' The fire is out, the
fender's broke, And father's out on strike,
Sister Ann's gone OFF HER CHUMP, In
fact, we're all alike.
1866. Broadside Ballad, 'Oh, She
Was Such a Beautiful Girl.' She diddled
me, she fiddled me, She sent me OFF MY
CHUMP.
1877. BESANT AND RICE, Son of
Vulcan, II., xxiv., p. 377. ' Master,' he
said, ' have gone OFF HIS CHUMP — that's
all.'
1883. BESANT, Captains Room, ch.
vii., p. 85 (1885). He ... was engaged
to be married to the king's sister . . .
unfortunately, only the week before I
arrived, he was killed arid devoured by a
lion, and the princess was gone OFF HER
royal CHUMP.
To GET ONE'S OWN CHUMP,
phr. (thieves'). — See quot.
Chumpy.
Churl.
1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude,
ch. iii., p. 242. ' Cut her own grass ! Good
gracious, what is that?' I asked. 'Why,
FURVIDE HER OWN CHUMP — earn her own
living," the old man replied.
C H u M PY, adj. (common). — The
same as OFF ONE'S CHUMP.
CHUNK, subs, (colloquial). — i. A
thick piece or lump of wood,
bread, coal, etc.
1691. RAY, S. and E. Country Wds.
(E. D. S.) Chuck, a great chip ... In
other countries [= districts] they call it a
CHUNK. [M.]
1787. GROSE, Prov. Glossary. 'Chuck.'
Chuck, a great chip, Suss. In other coun-
ties called a CHUNK or junk.
1876. BBS ANT AND RICE, Golden But-
terfly, ch. xxix. Why not keep a clerk to
read for you, and pay out the information
in small CHUNKS ? I should like to tackle
Mr. Carlyle that way.
c. 1880. Broadside Ballad, ' The
Hungry Man from Clapham.' He'd eat
everything there was in the place, He bit a
CHUNK from his mother-in-law's face.
2. (streets'). — A school-board
officer.
18(?). THOR FREDUR, Sketches from
Shady Places. Here they gambol about
like rabbits, until somebody raises the cry,
' Nix ! the CHUNK ' (the slang term for
School Board officer).
CHURCH, verb (thieves'). — To take
out the works of a watch and
substitute another set} so that
identification is impossible. — See
CHRISTEN, verb, sense i.
1857. SNOWDEN, Mag. Assistant,
3 ed., p. 445. To have the works of a
watch put into another case — To CHURCH
A YACK.
1868. DOR AN , Saints and Sinn. ,11.,
290. The (thieves') CHURCH THEIR YACKS
when they transpose the works of stolen
watches to prevent identification. [M.]
To TALK CHURCH, verbal phr.
(colloquial). — To TALK 'SHOP'
1851. NEWLAND, Erne, 217. Looking
at those wretched people and TALKING
CHURCH. [M.]
CHURCHWARDEN, subs. (general). —
A clay pipe with a long stem. —
See quot., 1864, under CLAY.
The following are general
variants.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Alder-
man ; steamer ; yard of clay ;
clay.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Une
bouffarde; une Beige; une chiffarde
(thieves') ; une marseillaise ; une
gambier (pop. from a manufac-
turer's name).
GERMAN SYNONYMS. Liilke
(M. H. G. fallen or lollen = to
suck ; lulkcn, to smoke) ; Massel
(Swabian : also = a street-walker ;
maiseln = to smoke) ; Nagel ;
Pilmerstab (only in Zimmermann) ;
Sarcherstock (from the Hebrew
sorach, through sdrchen, to stink or
to smoke. S archer, tobacco ; Sar-
cherkippe or Sarchertiefe, tobacco-
box ; Sarcherhanjo, tobacco-
pouch); Selcher (Viennese thieves':
from selchen, to smoke); Schmal-
fink.
1857. HOOD, Pen and Pencil Pictures,
£269. Give me my willow-tube for a
nee, the lid of a cigar-box for a shield.
Thrust me a pair of cutties into my girdle
for pistols ; hang a CHURCHWARDEN by
my side for a sabre.
1863. ALEX. SMITH, Dreamthorfe,
p. 262. He . . . lifted a pipe of the kind
called CHURCHWARDEN from the box on
the ground, filled and lighted it.
18(34. DR. RICHARDSON, on 'Tobacco,'
before Brit. Asspc. Met ting at Bath.
Cigars are more injurious than any form
of pipe ; and the best pipe is unques-
tionably what is commonly called a
CHURCHWARDEN or long clay.
CHURL. To PUT A CHURL UPON
A GENTLEMAN-— See GENTLE-
MAN.
8
Cider.
"4 Cincinnati Oysters.
CIDER. ALL TALK AND NO CIDER,
phr. (American). — Purposeless
loquacity ; ' Much cry and little
wool. ' Literally, much ado about
nothing. [For suggested deriva-
tion, seequoL, 1871.]
1835-40. HALIBURTON (' Sam Slick '),
Clockmaker, i S., ch. xxi. It is an ex-
pensive kind of honour that, bein'
Governor . . . Great cry and little wool !
ALL TALK AND NO CIDER.
1858. Notes and Queries ', 2 S., v.,
233. ALL TALK AND NO CIDER. This ex-
pression is applied to persons whose per-
formances fall far short of their promises.
1862. C. F. BROWNE, Artemus Ward :
His Book, p. 135. What we want is more
CIDER and less TALK.
1871. DE VERE, Americanisms, p.
591. This phrase originated at a party in
Bucks County, Pennsylvania, which had
assembled to drink a barrel of superior
cider ; but politics being introduced,
speeches were made, and discussion
ensued, till some malcontents withdrew on
the plea that it was a trap into which they
had been lured, politics and not pleasure
being the purpose of the meeting, or, as
they called it, ALL TALK AND NO CIDER.
CIDER AND, subs. phr. (colloquial).
— Cider mixed with some other
ingredient. Cf., COLD WITHOUT,
HOT WITH, etc.
1742. FIELDING, Joseph Andrews,
bk. I., ch. xvi. She then asked the doctor
and Mr. Barnabas what morning's draught
they chose, who answered, they had a pot
of CIDER-AND at the fire.
CiG, subs, (common). — A cigar.
[An abbreviation of the legitimate
word.] For synonyms, see WEED.
CINCH, verb (American). — To get a
grip on ; to ' corner ' ; to put the
screw on; also, in the passive sense,
to come out on the wrong side in
speculations. [From the Spanish
cincha, a belt or girdle ; cinchar,
to girdle. Properly used of the
saddling of horses with the huge
Mexican saddle. To CINCH a
horse, however, is by no means
the same as girthing him. The
two ends of the tough cordage
which constitute the CINCH ter-
minate in long narrow strips of
leather called latigos — thongs —
which connect the CINCHES with
the saddle, and are run through
an iron ring and then tied by a
series of complicated turns and
knots known only to the craft.]
1875. Scribners Mag:, July, p. 2^7.
A man is ciNCHED=he is hurt in a mining
transaction (San Francisco localism).
1881. New York Times, Dec. 18,
quoted in Notes and Queries, 6 S., v. 65.
CINCH. To subdue, to forcibly bind down
and overcome. Thus it is unfairly said
that the Northern Pacific Company intends
to CINCH the settlers by exacting large
prices for its lands. Query, from Latin
cingere.
1888. Daily Inter-Ocean, 2 Feb. Black
and Blue thinks the Dwyers have a CINCH
on both the great events.
1888. New York World, 22 July. The
bettor, of whom the pool-room bookmaker
stands in dread, however, is the racehorse
owner, who has a CINCH bottled up for a
particular race, and drops into the room an
hour or two before the races begin.
CINCINNATI OLIVE, subs. (Ameri-
can).— A pig. [A spurious ' olive
oil ' is manufactured from lard,
and Cincinnati is one of the
largest centres of the ' pork pack-
ing industry' in America.] Cf.,
CINCINNATI OYSTERS.
CINCINNATI OYSTERS, subs. (Ameri-
can).— Pigs' trotters. A curious in-
terchange of names occurs between
fish, flesh, and fowl. In CINCIN-
NATI OYSTERS we have flesh
presented in the guise of fish ;
and the reverse is the case when
the sturgeon is spoken of as
ALBANY BEEF. Amongst other
examples may be quoted MARBLE-
HEAD TURKEY, for a codfish ;
also, in Nova Scotia a DIGBY
CHICKEN = a herring smoked
and dried in a peculiar fashion.
Cinder.
Circumlocution*
In England a BILLINGSGATE
PHEASANT is a fresh herring ;
whilst a Yarmouth bloater is
sometimes a TWO-EYED STEAK. .
CINDER, subs, (common). — i. Any
strong liquor as brandy, whiskey,
sherry, etc. , mixed with a weaker,
as soda-water, lemonade, water,
etc., to fortify it.
1864. HOTTEN, Slang Dictionary,
3.V.
1883. Referee, March 18, p. 2, col. 4.
Having rushed out to get a glass of cold
water with a CINDER in it to take the chill
off.
2. (sporting). — A running path
or track ; merely an abbreviation
of ' cinder-path,' it being laid
with ' cinders. '
ClNDER-GARBLER,.wfo. (old). — A
female servant. Grose [1785]
says the term was ' Custom
House wit,' but gives no par-
ticulars.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Mar-
chioness ; slavey ; cinder-grabber;
Cinderella ; can (Scots) ; piss-
kitchen ; Julia.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Un ex-
trait de garni (popular) ; unchani-
brillon ; une bobonne (for bonne) ;
une larbine ; ^tne cambroitse ; une
Jeanne fon ; une groule or grcu-
lasse.
GERMAN SYNONYMS. Schifche
or Schijches ; Schammesch or
Schammes (from the Hebrew).
SPANISH SYNONYM. Famula
CiRCLiNG-Bov, subs, (old).— A
'rook'; swindler. Naressays a
species of roarer; one who in
some way drew a man into a
snare, to cheat or rob him. See
Gifford. — Ben Jonson, Barth.
Fair, iv., 3, p. 481.
CIRCS, subs, (common). — Circum-
stances.
CIRCUMBENDIBUS, subs, (old).— A
roundabout ; a long - winded
story. [From Lat. circum,
around, + Eng. BEND, with a
Latin termination.]
1681. DRYDEN, Sp. Friar, V., ii. I
shall fetch him back with a CIRCUM-
BENDIBUS, I warrant him. [M.]
1768. LORD CARLISLE, in Jesse's
Selivyn, II., 317(1882). I can assure you
it grieved me that anything of yours should
make such a CIRCUMBENDIBUS before it
came to my hands.
1773. O. GOLDSMITH, She Stools to
Conquer, Act v., Sc. 2. ' And from that,
with a CIRCUMBENDIBUS, I fairly lodged
them in the horse-pond at the bottom of
the garden.'
1849. LYTTON, Cantons, pt. VIII.,
ch. i. The cabman, to swell his fare, had
thought proper to take a CIRCUMBENDIBUS.
1890. Notes and Queries, 7 S., ix.,
29 March. . . . No choice but to deliver
himself of a malediction with a CIRCUM-
BENDIBUS.
CIRCUMLOCUTION OFFICE, suds.
(common). — A centre of red-
tape ; a roundabout way. [A
term invented by Charles Dickens
(see quot., 1857), and applied at
first in ridicule to public offices,
where everybody tries to shuffle
off his responsibilities upon some
one else.
1857. C. DICKENS, Little Dorrit, I.,
x. The CIRCUMLOCUTION OFFICE was the
most important Department under Govern-
ment. Ibid. Whatever was required to
be done, the CIRCUMLOCUTION OFFICE was
beforehand with all the public departments
in the art of perceiving — How not to do it.
1870. Graphic, Feb. 19, in 'By the
Bye.' To complete the contretemps a. por-
tion of the telegraphs struck work on the
very first day- of the Government taking
them in hand. Of course the great tribe
Circumslogdologize. "6
of evil-wishers ran about chuckling, and
rubbing their hands gleefully. ' I told
you so,' cried Rubasore. CIRCUMLOCU-
TION OFFICE again, sneered Crossgrain.
Clack.
Cl RCU MSLOGDOLOGIZE. — See
STOCKDOLLAGIZE.
CIRCUMSTANCE. NOT A CIRCUM-
STANCE, etc., phr. (American). —
Not to be compared with ; a
trifle ; of no account — unfavour-
able comparison.
18(?). J. H. BEADLE, Western Wilds,
p. 28. I took a broadhorn to Noo Orleens,
and when I was paid off on the levee, I
was the worst lost man you ever did see.
In the middle of the thickest woods in the
world WASN'T A CIRCUMSTANCE TO IT.
1848. J. R. LOWELL, Biglow Papers.
For Jacob WARN'T A SUCKEMSTANCE to
Teflf at financiering He never'd thought of
borryin' from Esau like all nater An' then
cornfiscatin' all debts to sech a small
pertater.
To WHIP [something] INTO A
CIRCUMSTANCE = to surpass.
Thus a newspaper correspondent
writes that ' the streets of George-
town,Demerara,are broad,smoolh,
and well laid out. Georgetown
could give points to New York
in its roads, and WHIP IT INTO
A CIRCUMSTANCE.'
CIRCUS-CUSS, subs, (thieves'). — A
circus -rider.
CITIZEN, subs, (thieves'). — A wedge
for 'prizing open' safes, before
the ALDERMAN (q.v.), and JEMMY
(q.v.). — See also CITIZENS'
FRIEND.
CITIZENS' FRIEND, subs, (thieves').
— A smaller wedge than the
CITIZEN (q.v.}, for ' prizing open '
safes. The order in which the
tools are used is (i) CITIZENS'
FRIEND; (2) CITIZEN; (3) the
ALDERMAN (i.e., a JEMMY); and
sometimes (4) a LORD MAYOR.
For synonyms, see JEMMY and
BETTY.
CITY COLLEGE, subs, (thieves'). —
Newgate. In New York = * The
Tombs.' For synonyms, see
CAGE.
CITY STAGE, subs, (old).— The
gallows, formerly in front of
Newgate. For synonyms, see
NUBBING CHEAT.
CIVET, subs, (general). — The female
pudendum. For synonyms, see
MONOSYLLABLE.
CIVIL RECEPTION. — See HOUSE OF
CIVIL RECEPTION.
CIVIL-RIG, subs, (vagrants'). — A
trick to obtain alms by a pro-
fuse show of civility and obse-
quiousness.
CIVVIES, subs, (military). — Civilians'
clothes, as opposed to regimen-
tals. [A corruption of the legiti-
mate word.]
CLACK, subs, (colloquial). — i. Idle,
loquacious talk ; gossip ; prattle
— an exceedingly old usage. For
synonyms, see PATTER.
c. 1440. YORK, Myst. XXXIV., 2x1.
Ther quenes vs comeres with her CLAKKE.
[M.]
1599. NASHE, Lenten Stujfe, in wks.
V. 251. Their CLACKE or gabbling to this
purport.
1678. BUTLER, Hudibras, pt. III.,
ch. ii. And, with his everlasting CLACK,
Set all men's ears upon the rack.
1748. SMOLLETT, Rod. Random, ch.
liv. I dreaded her unruly tongue, and
felt by anticipation the horrors of an eternal
CLACK !
1812. H. AND J. SMITH, Rejected
Addresses (' Punch's Apotheosis '). See
she twists her mutton fists like Molyneux
Clack-Box.
117
Claim.
or Beelzebub, And t'other's CLACK, who
pats her back, is louder far than Bell's
hubbub.
1888. J. PAYN, Myst Mirbridge
(Tauchn.) II., xviii., 197. The old fellow
would have had a CLACK with her. [M.]
2. (common). — The tongue
[/.*., that which CLACKS (q.v.),
verb.~\ A more ancient form was
CLAP dating back to 1225.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Glib;
red-rag ; clapper ; dubber ; vel-
vet ; jibb ; quail-pipe.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. La dili-
gence de Rome (popular) ; un bat-
tant (thieves' : also ' heart,'
'stomach,' and 'throat'); un
bon battant ('a nimble tongue.'
Cf., ' clapper ' ) ; line chiffe or un
chijfon rouge (popular); unegaffe-,
legrelot.
Lecker
GERMAN SYNONYM.
(literally ' the licker ')•
ITALIAN SYNONYMS.
Una ; dannoso (literally ' damag-
able ') ; zavarina (properly ' a
trifling old woman ').
SPANISH SYNONYM. La deso-
sada (i.e., Old Boneless).
1598. GREENE, Jos. 7F., wks. (Gros.)
XIII., 210. Haud your CLACKS, lads. [M.]
1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5 ed.).
CLACK (s.) . . . also a nickname tor a
woman's tongue ; a prattler or busybody.
1828. D'ISRAELI, Chas. I., II., i., 23.
Who, as washerwomen ... at their
work, could not hold their CLACK. [M.]
1864. E. SARGENT, Peculiar, III.,
76. To hermetically seal up this Mrs.
Gentry's CLACK. [M.]
Verb. — To gabble. For syno-
nyms, see PATTER.
CLACK- Box, subs, (common). — i.
The mouth. For synonyms, se,e
POTATO-TRAP.
2. (common). — A chatterbox.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. A mouth
almighty ; poll parrot ; babble -
merchant ; slammer.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Un par-
lotteur (familiar) ; un devidmr or
une devideuse (popular : literally
* a winder ') ; un bagotdard (popu-
lar : c'est unfameux bagoulard=
he is the bloke to slam) ; un
chambert : abuser du crachoir
(said of a chatterbox who does
too much with the ' spitter ').
SPANISH SYNONYMS. Hab-
latista (m ; jocular) ; habtantin
or hablanchin (m ; colloquial) ;
ladrador (m ; properly ' a barker ');
prosador (m ; properly ' a sarcastic
and malicious babbler ') ; gazetilla
(f; a farthing newspaper ') ; gar-
lador ; fuelle (m ; properly 'a pair
of bellows ') ; ya escampa (it is
importunate babbling ; escampar
signifies literally ' to clean or
clear out a place ') ; cotorrera
( = a gossip ; cotorreria — loqua-
city ; a term specially applied to
women) ; comadre (f; jueves de
comadres = Cummers' Thursday,
the last before Shrove Tuesday) ;
una chicharra. (a prattler ; chi-
charra — ' a froth worm ' or ' har-
vest fly ') ; charlantin.
CLACK-LOFT, subs, (popular). — A
pulpit. [From CLACK, verb^ +
LOFT, an elevated room or place.]
For synonyms, see HUM-BOX,
CLAIM, verb (thieves').— To steal,
(A locution similar in character
to 'annex,' 'convey,' etc., and
derived from a sense of the legi-
timate word signifying ' to de-
mand on the ground of right.')
For synonyms, see PRIG,
Clam.
118
Clap.
1879. J.W. HORSLEY, in Macmillaris
Mag-., XL., 501. So I CLAIMED (stole)
them.
To JUMP A CLAIM, phr. (Ameri-
can and colonial). — To take
forcible possession ; to defraud ;
specifically to seize land which has
been taken up and occupied by
another settler, or squatter. The
first occupant is, by squatter law
and custom, entitled to the first
claim on the land. — See JUMP.
1846. E. H. SMITH, Hist, of Black
Hawk. When I hunted claims, I went far
and near, Resolved from all others to keep
myself clear ; And if, through mistake, I
JUMPED A man's CLAIM, As soon as I knew
it I jumped off again.
18(7). F. MARRYAT, Mountains and
Molehills, p. 217. If a man JUMPED my
CLAIM, and encroached on my boundaries,
and I didn't knock him on the head with a
pickaxe, I appealed to the crowd, and, my
claim being carefully measured and found
correct, the jumper would be ordered to
confine himself to his own territory.
1883. R. L. STEVENSON, The Silver-
ado Squatters, p. 221. The CLAIM was
JUMPED ; a track of mountain-side,
fifteen hundred feet long by six hundred
wide . . . had passed from Ronalds
to Hanson, and in the passage changed
its name from the ' Mammoth ' to the
' Calistoga.'
CLAM, suds. (American). — I. A
blockhead. Anglice, ' as stupid as
an oyster.' Shakspeare (Much
Ado About Nothing, ii. 3) has
* Love may transform me to an
oyster ; but I'll take my oath on
it, till he hath made an oyster of
me, he shall never make me such
afool.' — 6^ CHOWDER-HEADED ;
chowder is a favourite form of
serving clams.
1871. S. L. CLEMENS ('Mark
Twain'), Sketches, I., 46. A fine stroke
of sarcasm, that, but it will be lost on such
an intellectual CLAM as you.
2. The mouth or lips. Also
CLAM-SHELL. ' Shut your CLAM-
SHELL ' = 'Shut your mouth.'
The • padlock now used on
the United States mail-bags
is called the 'Clam-shell padlock.'
For synonyms, see POTATO-TRAP.
1825. J. NEAL, Bro. Jonathan^ I.,
143. Shet your CLAM, our David.
1848. J. R. LOWELL, Biglow Papers,
II., p. 19. You don't feel much like
speakin', When if you let your CLAM-
SHELLS gape, a quart of tar will leak in.
1848. B ARTLETT, Diet. A mericanisnts.
SHUT UP YOUR CLAM-SHELLS. Close your
Hps together; be silent. Common along
the shores of Connecticut and Rhode
Island, where clams abound. Same as
' shut your head.'
CLAM -BUTCHER, subs* (American).
— A man who opens clams ; the
attendant at an oystejr bar is
an ' oyster-butcher,'
CLANK, stebs. (thieves'), — A pewter
tankard ; formerly a silver one.
1785, GROSE, Dict^ Vvlg* Tongue
CLANK : a silver tankard.
1837. DISRAEU, V^netia, ch. xiv.
Tip me the CLANK like a dimber mort as
you are.
CLANKER, subs. (old). — i. A great
lie. — Grose. C/., CLINKER. For
synonyms, see WHOPPER.
2. (old).— Silver plate. Cf*>
CLANK.
CLANK NAPPER, subs, (old).— A
thief whose speciality is silver-
plate. [From CLANK, subs. +
NAPPER (q.v.}, a thief.] For
synonyms, see THIEVES.
CLAP (or CLAPPER), subs, (com-
mon).— I. The tongue. [From
CLAP = chatter; a babbler's tongue
is said to be hung in the middle,
and to sound with both ends.]
For synonyms, see CLACK.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 72. "heone Ru ^en
heo neuere astunten hore CLEPFE.
Clap.
119
Claras.
1609. DEKKER, Guls Horne-Booke,
ch. vi. And to let that CLAPPER (your
tongue) be tost so high, that all the house
may ring of it.
1633. MASSINGER, New Way to Pay
Old Debts, III., 2. Greedy. Sir Giles,
Sir Giles ! Over. The great fiend, stop
that CLAPPER !
1750. FIELDING, Tom Jones, bk. VII.,
ch. xv. My landlady was in such high
mirth with her company that no CLAPPER
could be heard there but her own.
1835. HALIBURTON, Clockmaker, i
S., ch. xix. I thought I should have
snorted right out two or three times . . .
to hear the critter let her CLAPPER run that
fashion.
1861. HUGHES, Tom Brownat Oxford,
ch. vi. But old Murdoch was too pleased
at hearing his own CLAPPER going, and
too full of whiskey, to find him out.
1878. JOHN PAYNE, tr. Poems of
Villon, p. 139. Enough was left me (as
warrant I will) To keep me from holding
my CLAPPER still, When jargon that
meant ' You shall be hung ' They read to
me from the notary's bill : Was it a time to
hold my tongue ?
2. (vulgar). — Gonorrhoea ;
once in polite use. [Origin
uncertain ; ff.t Old Fr. dapoir,
bosse, bubo, panus inguinis ;
clapoire, clapier, 'lieu de debauche,
' maladie tfon y attrape''}. For
synonyms, see LADIES' FEVER.
1587. Myrr. Mag., Malin iii. Before
they get the CLAP.
1706. FARQUHAR. The Recruiting
Officer. Five hundred a year besides
guineas for CLAPS.
1709. SWIFT. Adv. Relig. Works
[1755] II., i. 99, s.v.
1738. JOHNSON, London, 114. They
sing, they dance, clean shoes, or cure a
CLAP.
1881. In Syd. Soc. Lex.
Verb (vulgar). — To infect with
CLAP; see subs. Also figuratively.
1658. OSBORN. fas. I. [1673], 514.
Atropos CLAPT him, a Pox on the Drab !
1680. BUTLER, Rem. [1759], I' 249.
[They] had ne'er been CLAP'D with a poetic
itch.
1738. Laws of Chance. Pref. 9. It
is hardly i to 10 . . . that a Town-
Spark of that Age has not been CLAP'D.
CLAPPER-DUDGEON, subs. (old). —
A whining beggar.
1567. HARMAN, Caveat (1814), p. 26.
These Palliards be called also CLAPPER
DOGENS, these go with patched clokes,
and haue their morts with them which
they cal wiues.
1625. JONSON, Staple of News, II.
Here he is, and with him — what? a
CLAPPER-DUDGEON ! That's a good sign,
to have the beggar follow him so near.
1705-7. WARD, Hudibras Rediviyus,
vol. I., pt. V., p. 10. Says he, there is an
old curmudgeon, A hum-drum, preaching,
CLAPPERDUDGEON.
1863. SALA, Capt. Dang., II., vii.,
225. Rogues, Thieves . . . and CLAPPER-
DUDGEONS . . . infested the outskirts of
the Old Palace. [M.]
CLAP OF THUNDER, subs. phr.
(old). — A glass of gin : a variant
of FLASH OF LIGHTNING (q.v.}.
1821. P. EGAN, Tom and Jerry
[Ed. 1890], p. 79- I have not exactly
recovered from the severe effects of the
repeated ' flashes of lightning ' and strong
CLAPS OF THUNDER, with which I had to
encounter last night.
CLAP-SHOULDER, subs. (old). — A
term applied to the officers of
justice who laid their hands upon
people's shoulders when they ar-
rested them. Cf., CATCH-POLE.
1630. TAYLOR, Workes. CLAP-
SHOULDER Serjeants get the devill and all,
By begging and by bringing men in thrall.
CLAPSTER, subs, (vulgar). — An
habitual sufferer from gonorrhoea ;
by implication, one much and
often in the way of getting
clapped.
CLARAS, subs. (Stock Exchange).
— Caledonian Railway Deferred
and Ordinary Stock.
1887. ATKIN, Hoitse Scraps. For
we have our Sarahs and CLAKAS. Our
Noras and Doras for fays.
Claret.
120
Clay.
CLARET, subs, (pugilistic). — Blood,
Variants are BADMINTON, BOR*
DEAUX, and COCHINEAL-DYE,
French le vermeil or Le vermois.
1604. DEKKER, Honest Whore, II,,
45, wks. [1873]. This should be a
Coronation day : for my head
lustily.
1819. THOMAS MOORE, Tom Crib's
Memorial to Congress, p. 25. ... This
being the first Royal CLARET let flow,
Since Tom took the Holy Alliance in Tow,
The uncorking produced much sensation
about, As bets had been flush on the first
painted snout.
1878. BESANT AND RICE, By Celia's
Arbour, ch. xxxix. The lieutenant picked
him up, and placed him — • because he
declined to stand ; and, indeed, the CLARET
was flowing freely — in the President's arm
chair.
To TAP ONE'S CLARET, phr.--
To draw blood.
CLARET JUG, subs, (pugilistic).— The
nose. [From CLARET, blood, +
JUG, a receptacle.] For syno-
nyms, see CONK.
18o9. Punch, vol. XXXVII., p. 22.
' A Chapter on Slang.' A man's broken
nose, is his CLARET-JUG smashed.
CLARIAN, subs. (Cambridge Uni-
versity).— A member of Clare
Hall, Cambridge ; also a GREY-
HOUND (q.V.).
1889. C. WHIBLEY. Cap and Gown.
E'en stuke-struck Ciarians strove to stoop.
CLASS, subs, (athletic).— The highest
quality or combination of highest
qualities among athletes. He's
not CLASS enough, i.e., not good
enough. There's a deal of CLASS
about him, i.e., a. deal of quality.
The term obtains to a certain ex-
tent among turfites.
1884. Referee, March 23, p. i, col. 3.
The elasticity necessary for anything like
CLASS at sprinting departs comparatively
early.
CLAW, subs, (prison). — A lash of
the cat-o'-nine-tails, C/".,CLAWED-
OFF, sense I.
1876. GREENWOOD, A Night in a
Work-house. Oh ! cuss that old Kerr,
whp cgndemned me to twenty-five CLAWS
with the cat.
CLAWS FOR BREAKFAST, subs,
phr. (prison), — See quot.
1873. GREENWOOD, In Strange Com-
pany, A ruffian being uncertain as to the
morning when he is to have, as he himself
would say, CLAWS for breakfast, is in the
habit of lying night after night in a sweat
of terror,
CLAWED-QFF, adv. phr. (old), — i.
Severely beaten or whipped. Cf,,
CLAW,
2. (old).— Venereally infected.
CLAW-HAMMER, subs. ,(Irish), —
A dress coat, [From a
supposed similarity in the
put of the tails to a CLAW HAM-
MER, one end of which is
divided into two claws, for
extracting nails from wood.]
Also called STEEL- PEN COAT and
SWALLOW-TAIL- For synonyms
of evening dress generally, see
WAR-PAINT.
1863. NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE, Pas*
sages from English Note-books, I., 538.
Sea-captains call a dress-coat a CLAW?
HAMMER.
1883. Punch, July si, p. ag, col. 2.
An ' Impressionist ' i§ not impressive
In a CLAW-HAMMER on a public platform.
1889. Pall Mall Gazette, Nov. n,
p. 7, co}. i. After the CLAW-HAMMED
crowd had been exhausted, he sent up an
invitation to the great army of unvarnished.
CLAY, subs, (colloquial). — A clay
pipe. Cf., YARD OF CLAY, but
for synonyms, see CHURCHWAR-
DEN.
1859. FAIRHOLT, Tobacco (1876), 173.
Such long pipes were reverently termed
ALDERMEN in the last age, and irreve-
rently YARDS OF CLAY in the present one.
Clean.
121
Clean Wheat.
1861. HUGHES. Tom Brownat Oxford,
ch. xxi., p. 223. He is churchwarden at
home, and can't smoke anything but a long
CLAY.'
1866. London Miscellany, 19 May,p.
235, col. 2. Surely these men, who win
and lose fortunes with the stolidity of a
mynheer smoking his CLAY YARD, must
be of entirely different stuff from the rest
of us.
1871. CALVERLEY, Verses and Tr.
Ode Tobacco. Jones . , . daily absorbs a
CLAY after his labours.
TO MOISTEN, SOAK, or WET
ONE'S CLAY, verbal, pht. — To
drink. [Clay = the human body, ]
1708. Brit. Apollo, No. 80, 3, i. We
were MOISTENING OUR CLAY. ,
1711. ADDISON, Spectator, No. 72,
par. 9. To MOISTEN THEIR CLAY,: and
grow immortal by drinking.
1731. FIELDING, Letter Writers,
Act ii., Sc. 2. A soph, he is immortal,
And never can decay ; For how should he
return to dust Who daily WETS HIS CLAY?
1790. RHODES, Bombastes Arioso.
MOISTENING OUR CLAY and puffing off our
cares.
1800. Morning Chronicle (in Whibjey,
p. 92). Cram not your attics With dry
mathematics, But MOISTEN YOUR CLAY
with a bumper of wine.
1836. DICKENS, Pickwick, ch. xxxix.,
p. 345. Ever and anon MOISTENING HIS
CLAY and his labours with a glass of claret.
1837. BARHAM, /. L. (The Monstre
Saloon). And they're feasting the party,
and SOAKING THEIR CLAY, With Johannis-
berg, Rudesheimer, Moselle, and Tokay.
1864. LOWELL, Fireside Trav., 119.
When his poor old CLAY WAS WET with
gin. [M.]
CLEAN, adj. and adv. (colloquial
and expletive). — I. Entirely ;
altogether; e.g., CLEAN GONE,
CLEAN BROKE, etc. Employed
by the best writers until a recent
date, and scarce colloquial even
now.
1888. W. E. HENLEY. A Book of
Verses, 'Ballade of a Toyokuni Colour
Print.' Child, although I have forgotten
CLEAN, I know That in the shade of Fuji-
san, What time the cherry orchards blow,
I loved you, once, in old Japan.
1890. MARK RUTHERFORD (' Reuben
Shapcott '), Miriam's Schooling, p. u.
The memory of the battle by the hill
Moreh is CLEAN forgotten.
2. Expert ; smart.
1878. CHARLES HINDLEY, Life and
Times of James Catnach. The CLEANEST
angler on the pad, In daylight or the
darky.
CLEAN -Our, verbal phr. (colloquial)
— To exhaust; strip; 'rack'; or
ruin. Fr. , sefaire lessiver.
1812. J. H. VAUX, Flash Diet.
CLEANED OUT : said of a gambler who
has lost his last stake at play ; also, of a
flat who has been stript of all his money.
1819. THOS. MOORE, Tom Crib's
Memorial to Congress, p. 38. All
Lombard-street to ninepence on it,
Bobby's the boy would CLEAN them OUT !
1840. DICKENS, Old Curiosity Shop,
ch. xxix., p. He never took a dice-box
in his hand, or held a card, but he was
plucked, pigeoned, and CLEANED OUT
completely.
c. 1880. Broadside Ballad, ' When
I was Prince of Paradise.' I introduced
' lop ' — in an hour or two, I'd CLEANED all
their pockets right OUT.
CLEAN POTATO, phr. (general). —
. The right thing. Of an action
indiscreet or dishonest, it is said
that * Jt's not the CLEAN POTATO.'
CLEAH STRAW, subs, (Winchester
College).— Clean sheets. [Before
1540 the beds were bundles of
straw on a stone floor. At that
date Dean Fleshmonger put in
oaken floors, and provided proper
beds, such as existed in 1871 in
Third, and later in the case of
the Prsefect of Hall's unused beds
in Sixth. The term has never
been used, as stated by Barrere,
in reference to mattresses of any
kind, straw or other,]
CLEAN WHEAT. IT'S THE CLEAN
WHEAT, phr. (general). The
Clear.
122
Clergyman.
best of its kind. For synonyms,
see A i and FIZZING.
CLEAR, adj. and adv. (old). —
Thick with liquor. [Apparently
on the principle lucus a non
lucendo. ]
1688. SHADWELL, Sqr., Alsatia, I.,
iv. Yes, really I was CLEAR ; for I do not
remember what I did.
1690. B. E., Diet. Cant. Crew.
CLEAR : very Drunk.
1699. VANBKUGH, Relapse, IV., iii.
I suppose you are CLEAR — you'd never
play such a trick as this else.
1725. New Cant. Diet., s.v.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue.
The cull is CLEAR let's bite him.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
Verb. — See CLEAR OUT.
CLEAR AS MUD, adv. phr. (com-
mon) = Not particularly lucid.
CLEAR CRYSTAL, subs, (popular).—
White spirits, as gin and whisky,
but extended to brandy and rum.
CLEAR GRIT, subs. — i. (Canadian).
— A member of the colonial
Liberal party,
1884. Fortnightly Review, May, 592.
There arose up [in Canada] a political
party of a Radical persuasion, who were
called CLEAR GRITS, and the CLEAR
GRITS declared for the secularisation of
the Clergy Reserves.
2. (American). — The right
sort ; having no lack of spirit ;
unalloyed ; decided.
1835-40. HALIBURTON ("Sam Slick1;,
Clockmaker, 3 S., ch. xxxii. I used to
think champagne no better nor mean cider
. . . but if you get the CLEAR GRIT
there is no mistaking it.
1861. New York Tribune, 10 Oct.
Nor do we think the matter much mended
by a CLEAR GRIT Republican convention,
putting one or two Democrats at the foot
of their tickets.
CLEAR OUT (or CLEAR OFF), verbal
phr. (colloquial). — 1< To depart.
1825. J. NEAL, Bro. Jonathan, II.,
151. Like many a hero before him, he
CLEARED OUT.
1861. Harper's Monthly, August.
You'll have to CLEAR OUT, and that pretty
quick or I'll be after you with a sharp
stick.
1885. Truth, 28 May, 1847. ! would
have the Canal under the control of an
International Commission . . . and then I
would CLEAR OUT of the country.
1888. J. RICKABY, Moral Philos., 205.
To warn the visitor to CLEAR OFF.
2. (popular). — To rid of cash ;
to ruin ; to ' clean out. '
1849-50. THACKERAY, Pendennis.
The luck turned from that minute . . .
came away CLEARED OUT, leaving that
infernal check behind me.
1884. Illustrated London News,
Christmas Number, p. 6, col. 2. He
CLEARED you OUT that night, old man.
CLEAVE, verb (old).— To be wanton ;
used of women. [Quoted by
Grose, 1785.]
CLEFT, subs, (common). — The
female pudendum. For synonyms,
see MONOSYLLABLE.
CLEGG, subs. (Scots). — A horse-fly.
CLENCH ER. — See CLINCHER.
CLERGYMAN, subs, (common). — A
chimney-sweep. [In allusion to
the colour of ' the cloth.'] Clergy-
men in their turn = ' chimney
sweeps. '
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Black
draught ; knuller ; flue-faker ;
querier ; chummy.
FRENCH SYNONYMS.
artiste \ fean de la suif.
Un
Clerked.
123
Climb Down.
ST. NICHOLAS' CLERK or
CLERGYMAN (old). — A highway-
man.
1589. R. HARVEY, PI. Perc., I, A
quarrel, by the highway side, between a
brace of SAINT NICHOLAS CLARGIE MEN.
[M.]
1597. SHAKSPEARE, King Henry IV.,
\. i. Sirrah, if they meet not with ST.
NICHOLAS' CLERKS, I'll give thee this
neck.
CLERKED,^//, adj. (old). Imposed
upon; 'SOLD' (q.v.).
1785. GROSE, Dick. Vulg. Tongue.
The cull will not be CLERKED.
CLERKS. — See ST. NICHOLAS'
CLERK.
CLERK'S BLOOD, subs. (old). — Red
ink. A common expression of
Charles Lamb's.
CLEVER SHINS, phr. (school). —
Sly to no purpose.
CLEYMES, subs. (old). — Artificial
sores, made by beggars to excite
charity.
CLICK, subs, (pugilistic). — A blow.
For synonyms, see DIG, BANG
and WIPE. Also a hold in wrest-
ling.
1819. T. MOORE, Tom Crib's Memo-
rial, p. 1 8. Home-hits in the bread-basket
CLICKS in the gob. Ibid, p. 30.
1871. Daily Telegraph, 8 April. C.
and W. Wrestling Society. The various
competitors struggled hard and put on
all they knew in 'hipes,' 'hanks,' 'CLICKS,'
'strokes,' and 'buttockings.'
Verb (old). — See quots., and
Cf., CLICKER.
1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5 ed.).
CLICK (v.) . . . or to stand at a shop-
door and invite customers in, as salesmen
and shoemakers do.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
To CLICK a nab ; to snatch a hat.
CLICKER, or KLICKER, subs. old).
— i. A shop-keeper's tout. [For-
merly a shoemaker's doorsman or
BARKER (q.v.), but in this par-
ticular trade the term is nowadays
appropriated to a foreman who
cuts out leather and dispenses
materials to workpeople ; a sense
not altogether wanting from the
very first.]
c. 1690. B. E. Diet. Cant. Crew.
CLICKER : the shoemaker's journeyman
or servant, that cutts out all the work, and
stands at or walks before the door, and
sales, ' What d'ye lack, sir ? what d'ye buy,
madam?"
1698. WARD, London Spy, pt. V., p.
117. Women were here almost as Trouble-
some as the Long-Lane CLICKERS.
1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5 ed.).
CLICKER (s.) : the person that stands at a
shoe-maker's door to invite customers to
buy the wares sold there.
1864. HOTTEN, Slang Dictionary.
CLICKER : a female touter at the bonnet
shops in Cranbourne Alley. In North-
amptonshire, the cutter out in a shoe-
making establishment.
2. (popular). — A knockdown
blow. — See CLICK, subs, sense.
3. (thieves'). — • One who ap-
portions the booty or 'regulars.'
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
CLIFT, verb (thieves'). — To steal.
For synonyms, see PRIG.
CLIMB DOWN, subs, and verb (collo-
quial).— The abandonment of a
position ; downward or retro-
grade motion ; the act of sur-
render. At first American.
1871. REV. H. W. BEECHER, Star
Papers, p. 41, quoted in De Vere's Ameri-
canisms. To CLIMB DOWN the wall was
easy enough, too easy for a man who did
not love wetting. Ibid, I partly CLIMBED
DOWN, and wholly clambered back again,
satisfied that it was easier to get myself in
than to get the flowers out.
1889 St. James s Gazette, 22 Nov,
p. 12, col. 2. I am particularly pleased
(adds our correspondent) with the noble
Clinch.
124
Clink.
conduct of the Bread Union, the first to
CLIMB DOWN, and the promptest to send in
its little bill.
1890. Globe, 7 April, p. 2, col. 2. It
is satisfactory to learn on no less an
authority than that of the New York
Herald that the general election may at
the moment be regarded remote. This is
indeed a CLIMB DOWN on the part of the
chief disseminator of the Dissolution
rumour.
1890. Globe, 19 Feb., p. 2, col. 2.
Mr. MacNeill's ' personal statement ' in
the House yesterday was distinctly in the
nature of a CLIMB DOWN.
CLINCH, subs, (thieves'). — A prison
cell. [? From CLINCH, to clutch,
grip, and hold fast. Cf., CLINK.]
Variants in English are BOX, COB,
SALT-BOX, CHOKEY and SHOE.
Fr., une cachemitte, um cachemar
or cachemince (all thieves', from
cachet, ' a black hole ') ; also un
clou (military) ; maison de cam-
pagne (military) ; un mazaro, or
lazaro ; une matatane (military) ;
un ours (popular) ; un abattoir
(thieves' ; properly ' a slaughter
house.' This last, the name of
the condemned cell in the prison
of La Roquette, corresponds to
the Newgate Salt Box). In
German : Ndck (only in Zimmer-
mann ; single cell in a prison ;
probably from the U.G. Noche
• and the M.H.G. Nacke = boat,
from its shape ; derivation from
the Hebrew Nekef = hole, is also
possible).
TO GET Or KISS THE CLINCH
or CLINK, verbal phr. (thieves').
— To be imprisoned. For syno-
nyms, see COP.
1864. HOTTEN, Slang Diet., p. 102.
s.v.
CLINCH ER or CLENCH ER,SU&S. (col-
loquial).— i. That which decides
a matter, especially a retort
which closes an argument ; a
' finisher,' * settler,' * corker.'
- [From CLINCH, * to secure or
make fast,' through its obsolete
meaning of 'to pun or quibble,'
+ ER.]
1754. B. MARTIN, Eng. Diet. CLIN-
CHER ... an unanswerable reason or
argument.
1839. PIERCE EGAN, Finish to Life
in London, p. 13. Death comes but once,
the Philosophers say And 'tis true my
brave boys, but that once is a CLENCHER
It takes us from drinking and loving away
And spoils at a blow the best tippler and
wencher.
1836. DICKENS, Pickwick, ch. xvi.,
p. 136. 'Why cannot I communicate with
the young lady's friends?' ' Because they
live one hundred miles from here, sir,'
responded Job Trotter. ' That's a
CLINCHER,' said Mr. Weller, aside.
2. (common). — An unsur-
passed lie ; a 'stopper-up,' [This
sense flows naturally from sense
I and the accepted usages of
CLINCH, verb and noun. C/.t
CLINKER, WHOPPER, THUMPER,
WHACKER, etc.] For synonyms,
see WHOPPER.
CLING-RIG. — See CLINK-RIG.
CLINK, subs. (old). — i. A prison or
lock-up ; specifically applied, it
is thought, to a noted gaol in the
borough of Southwark ; subse-
quently to places — like Alsatia,
the Mint, etc. — privileged from
arrests ; and latterly, to a small
dismal prison or a military guard
room. For synonyms, see CAGE.
1515. BARCLAY, Egloges, I. (1570)
A. 5, 4. Then art thou clapped in the
Flete or CLINKE. [M.] .
1642. MILTON, Apol. for Smect, § ii.,
in wks. (1806) I., 237. And the divine
right of episcopacy was then valiantly as-
serted, when he who would have been re-
spondent, must have bethought himself
withal how he could refute the CLINK or
the Gatehouse.
1835. MARRY AT, Jacob Faithful, ch.
xix. Come along with me ; we've a nice
CLINK. at Wandsworth to lock you up in.
Clink.
Clinker.
1839. H.
ep. I., ch. vi. The old and ruinous prson
belonging to the liberty of the Bishop of
Winchester (whose palace formerly ad-
joined the river) ; called the CLINK.
2. (thieves'). — Silver plate ;
also CLINCH. — See CLANK.
1781. G. PARKER, View of Society,
II. He wouldn't have been hobbled but
the melting-pot receiver proved his selling
the CLINK to him.
3. (Scotch colloquial). — Money.
Cf., CHINK.
1724-40. RAMSAY, Tea-t. Misc., 14.
The Warld is rul'd by Asses, And the WISE
are sway'd by CLINK.
1789. BURNS, Let.J. Tennant, May
ye get . . . Monie a laugh, and monie a
drink, An' aye enough o' needfu' CLINK.
1817. HOGG, Tales and Sk., II., 2, 3.
Such young ladies as were particularly
beautiful . . . and had the CLINK. [M.]
4. (colloquial). Also BUM-
CLINK. — A very indifferent beer
made from the gyle of malt and
the sweepings of hop bins, and
brewed especially for the benefit
of agricultural labourers in har-
vest time.
1863. SALA, Capt. Dang., I., ix.,
266. A miserable hovel of an inn . . .
where they ate their rye-bread and drank
their sour CLINK. [M.]
To Kiss THE CLINK, verbal
phr. (old). — To be imprisoned.
[From CLINK, suds., sense i.]
For synonyms, see COP.
1588. JOHN UDALL, State of the Ch.
of England, etc., p. 22 (Arber's ed.) DIOTR.
Awaye, thou rayling hypocrite, I will
talke with thee no longer, if I catche
thee in London, I will make thee KISS THE
CLINKE for this geare. PAUL. In deede
the CLYNKE, Gate-house, White-lyon, and
the Fleet, haue bin your onely argumentes
whereby you haue proued your cause
these many yeeres.
1889. Gentleman s Magazine, p. 598.
s.v.
CLINKER, subs. — i. (in plural, old).
— Fetters. For synonyms, see
DARBIES.
1690. B. E., Diet. Cant. Crew, CLIN-
KERS : the Irons Felons wear in Gaols.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
CLINKERS : irons worn by prisoners.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
2. (old). — A crafty, designing
man.
1690. B. E., Diet. Cant. Crew, CLIN-
KER : a crafty fellow.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
s.v.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
3. (thieves'). — A chain of any
kind, whether fetter or watch
chain. C/., sense I.
t 4. (pugilistic). — A well-de-
livered blow; a 'hot-'un.'
c. 1863. THACKERAY, Men's Wives,
Frank Berry, ch. i. Berry goes gallantly
in, and delivers a CLINKER on the gown-
boy's jaw.
5. (colloquial, chiefly sport-
ing)-— Any thing or person of
first-rate and triumphant quality ;
also a CLINCHER (q.v.) ; a
'settler.' C/., sense 4.
1733. SWIFT, Life and Character
Dean S' — t. A protestant's a special
CLINKER. It serves for sceptic and free-
thinker. [M.]
1869. Daily Telegraph, 5 April. De-
spite the indifferent manner in which
Vagabond cut up at the finish of the
Metropolitan, quite sufficient was seen of
him to prove that at a mile and a half he
is a CLINKER.
1871. Daily News, 17 April, p. 2., col.
i. Ripponden and Cheese wring per-
formed so indifferently as to strengthen
the doubts whether they are really
CLINKERS.
6. (common). — Deposits of
faecal or seminal matter in the
hair about the anus or the female
pud.ndum.
7. (common). — A lie. For
synonyms, see WHOPPER.
TO HAVE CLINKERS IN ONE'S
BUM, phr. (vulgar).— To be un-
easy ; unable to sit still.
Clinkeruw.
126
Clipping.
CLINKERUM. The same as CLINK,
sense I.
CLINKING, ppl. adj. (common). —
First-rate ; extra good ; about
the best possible. C/., CLIPPING,
THUMPING, WHOPPING, BATT-
LING, etc.
1868. Daily Telegraph, 6 June. Ver-
mouth was a CLINKING good horse.
1887. Sporting Times, 12 March, p.
a, col. 2. Prince Henry must be a CLINK-
ING good horse when in the humour to go.
1889. Polytechnic Mag., 24 Oct., p.
263. Soon afterwards the Poly, obtained
a free kick, and Young notched a point
for them. Heard again steered the ball
to the Clapham goal, and Toghill put in
a CLINKING shot which just shaved the
upright.
CLINK-RIG or CLING-RIG, subs.
(old). — Stealing silver tankards
from public-houses, etc. [From
CLINK, plate, + RIG, a theft, or
dodge. ]
1781. G. PARKER, View of Society,
II., 174, s.v.
1864. HOTTEN, Slang Diet. , s. v.
CLIP, subs, (colloquial). — A smart
blow, e.g., a CLIP in the eye.
For synonyms, see DIG, BANG,
and WIPE.
1830. MARRYAT, King's Own, xxvi.
The master fires and hits the cat a CLIP on
the neck.
1835. HALIBURTON ("Sam Slick'),
The Clockmaker (1862^, 89. He made a
pull at the old-fashioned sword . . . and
drawing it out he made a CLIP at him.
I860. Police Gazette, 17 November.
He ran up to him, hit him a severe CLIP,
and dashed through the window.
Verb (colloquial). — To move
quickly. For analogous terms, s*e
AMPUTATE. [Probably origin-
ally a falconry term = to fly
swiftly.]
1838. M. SCOTT, Tom Cringle, xii.
(1859,), 281. He CLIPPED into the water
with the speed of light.
1835-40. HALIBURTON ("Sam Slick'),
The Clockmaker (1862), 46. He sees a
steam-boat a CLIPPIN it by him like mad.
1843-4. Sam Slick in England, viii.
(Bartlett^. I ran all the way, right down
as hard as I could CLIP.
CLIPE, -verb (school). — To tell
tales; to 'split'; to PEACH; q.v.
(for synonyms).
CLIPPER, subs, (colloquial). — A
triumph in horses, men, or
women ; a splendid man ; a
brilliant or very stylish woman ;
an admirable horse. [From
CLIPPER, = a vessel built with a
view to fast sailing; previous to
which the term was applied to
a hack for the road.]
1835. HALIBURTON, Clockmaker, i S.,
ch. xv. A perfect pictur' of a horse, and
a genuine CLIPPER ; could gallop like the
wind.
1846. THACKERAY, V. Fair, ch. xvi.
You have head enough for both of us,
Beck, said he. You're sure to get us out
of the scrape. I never saw your equal,
and I've met with some CLIPPERS in my
time, too.
1851. MAYHEW, Lon. Lab. and Lon.
Poor, I., p. 133. They [wild ducks] come
over here when the weather's a CLIPPER ;
for you see cold weather suits some birds
and kills others.
CLIPPING or CLIPPINGLY, ppl. adj.
and adv. (common). — Excellent ;
very showy ; first-rate. [From
that sense of clipping = that flies
or moves fast. — See quot., 1643.]
For synonyms, see Ai and FIZ-
ZING.
1643. P. QUARLES, Emblemes, B. IV.,
ii., p. 194 (ed. 1648). O that the pinions
of a CLIPPING Dove Would cut my passage
through the Empty Air, Mine eyes being
sealed, how would I mount above The
reach of danger and forgotten care !
18(50. THACKERAY, Philip, ch. i., p.
46. What CLIPPING girls there were in
that barouche.
1864. E. YATES, Broken to Harness,
ch. xxiii. [Mr. Commissioner Beresford
loq. :] CLIPPING riders, those girls ! good
as Kate Mellon anyday !
Cloak.
127
Clock.
CLOAK, subs, (thieves'). — A watch
case. [From CLOAK, an outer
garment.]
1839. HARRISON AINSWORTH, Jack
Sheppard [1889], p. 70. Near to these
hopeful youths sat a fence, or receiver,
bargaining with a clouter, or pickpocket,
for a ' suit," or, to speak in more intelligible
language, a watch and seals, two ' CLOAKS,'
commonly called watch-cases and a ' wedge-
lobb,' otherwise known as a silver snuff-
box.
CLOAK-TWITCH ERS, subs. (old). —
Thieves who made a special
business of robbing the lieges of
their CLOAKS. [From CLOAK +
TWITCH, to snatch, + ER.] In
the old French cant these rogues
were termed tirelaines^i.e.^ wool-
pullers (tirer = pull). For syno-
nyms, see THIEVES.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
s.v.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
CLOBBER, subs, (common). — Pri-
marily old, but now also applied
to new clothes. For synonyms,
see TOGS.
1879. J. W. HORSLEY, Macm. Mag:,
XL., 502. Having a new suit of CLOBBER
on me.
1889. Answers, n May, p. 374, col. 3.
The CLOBBER (old clothes) which have
been presented by charitable persons are
exchanged and sold.
1889. Sporting Times, quoted in
Slang, Jargon, and Cant, p. 255. If you
are hard up always tell the dear things
that you are a gentleman's valet. This
will account for your good CLOBBER.
Verb. — Also CLOBBER UP. i
To patch ; revive ; or ' translate '
clothes. [Properly applied to
cobbling of the lowest class. Cf.,
CLOBBERER.]
1865. Casseirs Paper, Article, ' Old
CloV They are now past 'CLOBBERING,'
'reviving,' or 'translating,' they are, in
fact, at the lowest point of Fortune's wheel :
but the next turn puts them in its highest
point again.
2. To dress smartly ; to rig
oneself out presentably. For
synonyms, see RIG OUT.
1879. J. W. HORSLEY, Macm. Mag.,
XL., 501. I used to get a good many pieces
about this time, so I used to CLOBBER
myself up and go to the concert-rooms.
1886. W. E. HENLEY, Villon s Good-
Night. You judes that CLOBBER for the
stramm.
1889. Fun [quoted in S.,J., and C.
p. 256]. ' D'you know, if you were CLOB-
BERED up I shouldn't mind taking you
out?' She promised to be presentable.
In her own words she said, ' I'll come
CLOBBERED UP like a dukess.'
TO DO CLOBBER AT A FENCE,
phr. (thieves').— To sell stolen
clothes. Fr., laver les harnats.
CLOBBERER, subs, (common). — See
quot. and Cf., CLOBBER, subs.
and verb.
1864. The Times, Nov. 2. Old clothes
that are intended to remain in this country
have to be tutored and transformed. The
CLOBBERER, the ' reviver,' and the ' trans-
lator' lay hands upon them. The duty
of the CLOBBERER is to patch, to sew up,
and to restore as far as possible the
garments to their pristine appearance.
CLOCK, subs, (thieves'). — A watch.
A RED CLOCK^ a gold watch; a
WHITE CLOCK = a silver watch.
Generally modified into ' red'un '
and ' white'un,' but for synonyms,
see TICKER.
1886. Tit-Bits, 5 June, p. 121. Thus
Fillied for a CLOCK and Slang, reveals the
fact that the writer stole a watch and
chain, was apprehended, and has been fully
committed for trial.
To KNOW WHAT'S O'CLOCK,
phr. (common). — To be on the
alert ; in full possession of one's
senses ; a DOWNEY COVE : gener-
ally KNOWING(^.Z\ for synonyms).
A variant is to KNOW THE TIME
O'DAY.
1835. DICKENS, Sketches by Bo?, p.
451. Our governor's wide awake, he is,
Clod- Crushers.
128
Clothes-Pin.
I'll never say nothin' agin him, nor no
man ; but he knows WHAT'S O'CLOCK, he
does, uncommon.
1849-50. THACKERAY, Pendennis, I.,
p. 138. I'm not clever, p'raps, but I am
rather downy, and partial friends say
that I know WHAT'S O'CLOCK tolerably
well.
CLOCK STOPPED. — See TICK.
CLOD-CRUSHERS, subs, (popular).
— I. Clumsy boots. [In agri-
culture an implement for pulveris-
ingclods. Cf., BEETLE-CRUSHERS,
and for synonyms, see TROTTER-
CASES.]
2. (common), — Large feet.
[A transferred usage. — See sense
I,]
CLODS AND STICKINGS, subs. phr.
(paupers'). — See quot.
1871. Daily Telegraph, 24 Oct. , Henry
Melville's (the pauper) passionate,
'beutiful,' for Stepney Workhouse is a
grotesque reflex of Marie Stuart's pathetic
farewell to France. Is the skilly we
wonder most ' beutiful ' at Stepney, or
are the CLODS AND STICKINGS unusually
free from bone.
CLOlSTER-RousH, subs. (Winches-
ter College t obsolete). — See quot.
1870. MANSFIELD, School Life at
Winchester College, p. 117. We had some
singular customs at the commencement of
Cloister time. Senior part and Cloisters,
just before the entrance of the Masters
into School, used to engage in a kind of
general tournament ; this was called
CLOISTER ROUSH.
CLOOTIE (Scots).— The Devil.— See
CLOOTS.
1786 BURNS, Address to the Deil.
Auld Hornie, Satan, Nick, or CLOOTIE.
CLOOTS (Scots), subs. — Hooves.
1786. BURNS, The Death and Dying
Words of Puir Mailie. An' no to rin and
wear his CLOOTS, Are ither menseless,
graceless brutes.
CLOSE AS WAX, adv.phr. (general).
— Miserly ; niggardly ; secretive.
[A simile derived mainly from
CLOSE, adj. = hidden or reticent.]
1863. C, READE. HardCash, I., 231.
Then commenced a long and steady
struggle, conducted with a Spartan dignity
and self command, and a countenance as
CLOSE AS WAX.
CLOSE-FILE, stibs. (old). — A person
secretive or ' close ' ; not ' open '
or communicative. [From CLOSE,
adj. — secretive + FILE = a man.]
1839. HARRISON AINSWORTH, Jack
Sheppard [1889], p. 8. Tom Sheppard
was always a CLOSE FILE, and would never
tell whom he married.
CLOTH. [Generally THE CLOTH],
subs. (colloquial). — Primarily
clergymen ; the members of a
particular profession. For syno-
nyms, see DEVIL-DODGER.
1836. C. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers
(about 1827), p. 363 (ed. 1857). ' I main-
tain that that 'ere song's personal to THE
CLOTH,' said the mottle-faced gentleman.
1864. Daily Review, Nov. 3. It
might have seemed more decorous to draw
our illustration of the Doctor's [Revd.] in-
genuity from an incident related of two
persons who have some right to be con-
sidered as in a sense belonging to THE
CLOTH — The Abbess and Novice of An-
douillets.
CLOTHES-LINE. ABLE TO SLEEP
UPON A CLOTHES-LINE, phr. (com-
mon). — Capable of sleeping any-
where or in any position ; said of
those able and willing to rest as
well upon the roughest ' shake-
down ' as upon the most comfort-
able bed. [Cf.t TWO-PENNY
ROPE and PLANK-BED.] Also
applied in a transferred sense — a
synonym for general capacity and
ability.
CLOTHES-PIN. THAT'S THE SORT
OF CLOTHES-PIN I AM,///r. (popu-
lar). — That's the sort of man I am.
In the case of women THAT'S
THE SORT OF HAIR-PIN (q.V.}.
Cloth Market.
129
Clouting.
CLOTH -M ARK ET,j«fo. (old). — Abed.
[Of obvious derivation. Cf.t Fr.,
la halle aux draps.] For syno-
nyms, see BUG-WALK and KIP.
1738. SWIFT, Pol. Convert., dial i.
I hope your early rising will do you no
harm. I find you are but just come out of
the CLOTH MARKET.
1824. T. FIELDING, Proverbs, etc.
(Familiar Phrases), p. 148. He's in the
CLOTH MARKET. In bed.
CLOUD. — See BLOW A CLOUD.
CLOUD originally signified to-
bacco smoke. — [Grose, I7&5']
Fr., en griller une = to smoke a
pipe or cigarette ; also en griller
une seche and en griller une bouf-
farde.
CLOUD-CLEAN ER,SU&S. (nautical). —
See quot. ANGEL'S FOOTSTOOL,
and Cf.
18&3. W. CLARK RUSSELL, Sailors
Word Book, p. 31. CLOUD-CLEANER, an
imaginary sail jokingly assumed to be
carried by Yankee ships.
CLOUT, subs, (vulgar). — i. A blow ;
a kick. For synonyms, see BANG,
DIG, and WIPE.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue.
CLOUT : a blow (cant), I'll give you a
CLOUT on your jolly nob ; I'll give you a
blow on the head.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
1864. M. E. BRADDON, Aurora Floyd,
ch. xx. ' If you had a father that'd fetch
you a CLOUT of the head as soon as look at
you, you'd run away perhaps.
2. (thieves'). — A pocket-hand-
kerchief. [A.S. clilt, a clout or
patch ; Dan. klud, Swed. klut, or
perhaps from the Keltic ; hence,
any worthless piece of cloth.]
For synonyms, j<?<?WiPE, sense 2.
1574-1637. BEN JONSON, Metam.
Gipsies. And Tidslefoot has lost his
CLOUT, he says, with a three-pence and
four tokens in't.
1714. Memoirs of John Hall, 4 ed.,
p. ii. [List of Cant Words in.] CLOUT :
a handkerchief.
1754. FIELDING, Jon. Wild, bk. I.,
ch. ix. A neat double CLOUT, which
seemed to have been worn a few weeks
only, was pinned under her chin.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue.
A handkerchief.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. A
handkerchief (cant). Any pocket handker-
chief except a silk one.
1864. HOTTEN, Slang Diet. CLOUT,
or Rag, a cotton pocket handkerchief (old
cant).
3. plural (low). — A woman's
under-clothes, from the waist
downwards. Also her complete
wardrobe, on or off the person.
4. (common). — A woman's
' bandage ' ; ' diaper ' ; or ' sani-
tary.'
Verb (low). — I. To strike.
Fr. , jeter une mandole. For syno-
nyms, see TAN.
1576-1625. BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER
[quoted in Annandale's ed. of Ogilvie's
Imperial Diet.]. Pay him over the pate,
CLOUT him for all his courtesies.
2. (old). — To patch ; to tinker.
17(?). Scots Ballad. I'll CLOUT my
Johnnie's grey breeks For a' the ill he's
done me yet.
1785. BURNS, The Jolly Beggars. In
vain they searched when off I marched To
go and CLOUT the caudron.
CLOUTER, subs. (old). — A pick-
pocket — especially one who
steals handkerchiefs. [From
CLOUT, sense 2 (q.v.\ a pocket-
handkerchief, + ER.] Cf., CLOUT-
ING, sense 2. For synonyms,
see STOOK-HAULER.
1839. W. H. AINSWORTH, /. Shep-
pard, p. 158, ed. 1840. Near to these
hopeful youths sat a fence, or receiver, bar-
gaining with a CLOUTER, or pickpocket.
CLOUTING, verbal subs, (common).
i. A beating, basting, or TAN-
NING (q.v. for synonyms). — See
also BASTE.
9
Cloven.
130
Club.
2. (thieves'). — Stealing hand-
kerchiefs. Cf.y CLOUTER.
CLOVEN, CLEAVED, CLEFT, adj.
(old). — Terms applied to a sham
virgin. (CLEFT, subs. — the female
pudendum. )
IN CLOVER, adv. phr. (collo-
quial).— Well-off ; comfortable ;
e.g., like a horse at grass in a
clover field.
CLOW, subs. (Winchester College).
Pronounced eld. — A box on the
ear. [Possibly from CLOUT (q.v.).
on the model of * bow ' from
'bout,' and 'low' from 'lout.'
Halliwell gives ' clow ' as a
Cumberland word, meaning ' to
scratch.'] C/., BASTE, and for
general synonyms, see BANG, DIG,
and WIPE.
1870. MANSFIELD, School-Life at
Winchester College, p. 140. The juniors
did not get much fun out of the regular
games, as their part consisted solely in
kicking in the ball, and receiving divers
kicks and CLOWS in return for their vigi-
lance. Ibid, p. 39. Nor, when ordered to
1 hold down,' (i.e., put your head in a con-
venient position) for a CLOW, would the
victim dare to ward off the blow.
Verb. — To box one on the ear.
It was customary to preface the
action by an injunction to ' hold
down.' — See quot., 1870, under
subs.t sense.
1622. HEAD AND KIRKMAN, Canting
Song, in English Rogue. I met a Dell, I
viewed her well, She was benship to my
watch ; So she and I did stall and CLOY,
Whatever we could catch.
1671. R. HEAD, English Rogue, pt.
I., ch. v., p. 48 (1874). CLOY : to steal.
1706. E. COLES, Eng. Diet. CLOY :
to steal.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
s.v. To CLOY the clout, to steal the
handkerchief. To CLOY the lour, to steal
money.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
CLOVER, subs. (old). — A thief who
intruded on the profits of young
sharpers, by claiming a share.
1611. MIDDLETON, R oaring Girl, O.
PL, vi., 113. Then there's a CLOVER, or
snap, that dogs any new brother in that
trade, and snaps, — will have half in any
booty.
1659. The Catterpillars of this
Nation Anatomised. [CLOYER=a pick-
pocket.]
CLOVES, subs. (old). — Thieves;
robbers, etc. [In Grose, 1785,
and Lexicon Balatronicum, 181 1.]
-See CLOY and CLOVER.
CLOYING, verbal subs, (old) Steal-
ing.
1739. Poor Robin. Money is now a
hard commodity to get, insomuch that
some will venture their necks for it, by
padding, CLOYING, milling, filching, nab-
bing, etc., all of which in plain English is
only stealing.
CLOWES, subs, (old).— Rogues.—
Grose [1785].
CLOY, CLIGH, or CLY, verb (old).
— To steal. For synonyms, see
PRIG. An old Gloucestershire
vulgarism for the hands is CLEES.
1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all,
p. 8 (H. Club's Repr., 1874). They are
sure to be CLYD in the night by the
angler, or hooker, or such like pilferers
that Hue upon the spoyle of other poore
people.
CLUB, verb (military). — In man-
oeuvring troops, so to blunder
the word of command that the
soldiers get into a position from
which they cannot extricate them-
selves by ordinary tactics.
18<?). THACKERAY, Novels by
Eminent Hands. ' Phil Fogarty.'
' CLUBBED, be jabers ! ' roared Lanty
Clancy. ' I wish we could show 'em the
Fighting Onety-Oneth, Captain, darlin' ! '
1854. WHYTE MELVILLE, General
Bounce, ch. xi. If you're in difficulties,
Chi ui p.
Cly- Faker.
ask Sergeant File what is best to be done,
only don't CLUB "em, my boy, as you did
at Limerick.
Sul>s. (venery). — The penis.
CLUMP, subs, (common). — A blow,
generally a heavy one, with the
hand. — See quots. under verbal
sense. For synonyms, see BANG,
DIG, and WIPE.
Verb (common). — To strike ;
to give a heavy blow. Fr. , faire
du bifteck. For synonyms, see
TAN.
1864. Derby Day, p. 52. ' We can't
give "em in charge now.' . . . ' Because
why? I'll tell you ... we shouldn't
know when to spot 'em. No I want to
CLUMP them. It will spoil sport to call
in the bobbies.'
1874. W. E. HENLEY, MS. Ballad.
Which they calls me the Professor, But
I'm only Hogan's Novice, Bloody artful
with the mufflers, And a mark on fancy
CLUMPING.
1888. Daily News, 2 Jan., p. 7, col. i.
The prisoner CLUMPED (struck) both of
them, and then ran away.
CLU M PER, subs, (common). — I. A
thick, heavy boot for walking.
[Clumps in shoemakers' tech-
nology = extra fore or half soles.]
Cf., quot. under CLUMPING.
For synonyms, see TROTTER-
CASES.
2. (common). — One that
clumps; a 'basher.'
CLUMPERTON, subs. (old). — A
countryman. For synonyms, see
JOSKIN.
1870. All the Year Round, Mar. 5.
'Byegone Cant (Geo. II.).' CLUMPER-
TONS agape at the giant proportions of
the still somewhat new St. Paul's would
turn from their wondering walks to shudder
and shrink at the ghastly gallows exhi-
bition at Newgate.
CLUMPING, verbal subs, (common).
— Walking heavily and noisily :
as in hoi rails or in clogs.
1864. [From Hotten s MS. Collec-
tion, n.d.] 'Why, woman ! dost 'oo think
I'se had naught better to do than go
CLUMPING up and down the sky a-searching
for thy Tummas ? '
CLY, subs, (thieves'). — I, A pocket;
purse ; sack ; or basket. For
synonyms, see BRIGH and SKY-
ROCKET.
1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4 ed. ).
p. 12. CLY: a pocket.
1742. CHARLES JOHNSON, Highway-
men and Pirates, p. 252. Filing a CLY
which is picking pockets of watches, money,
books or handkerchiefs.
1748. T. DYCHE, Diet. (5 ed.). CLY
(s.) : the cant term for ... purse or
pocket.
1818. MAGINN, from VIDOCQ. The
Pickpocket's C haunt. A regular swell cove
lushy lay. To his CLIES my hooks I throw
in, Tol, lol, etc.
1834. AINSWORTH, Rookwood. No
knuckler SQ deftly could fake a CLY.
1858. A. MAYHEW, Paved ivith Gold,
bk. II., ch. i., p. 69. They're just made
for hooking a fogle [handkerchief] out of a
CLYE.
1878. CHARLES HINULEY, Life and
Times of James Catnach. Frisk the CLY
and fork the rag, Draw the fogies plummy.
2. (thieves'). — Money.
1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5 ed.),
CLY (s.) : the cant name for money, a
purse, or a pocket.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
CLY: money.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
Verb (old).— I . To take ; have ;
receive ; pocket : in fact, ' to
COP.'
1567. HARMAN, Caveat (1814), p. 66.
The ruffian CLY thee, the deuil take thee.
1609. DEKKER, a Gypsy song, in
Lanthome and Candlelight, etc. The
Ruffin CLY the nab of the Harman beck.
If we mawnd Pannam, lap or Ruff-peck.
CLY-FAKER, subs, (thieves'). — A
pickpocket. [From CLY, a pocket,
+ FAKE, to steal. + ER.] For
synonyms, see STOOKHAULER.
Cly-Faking.
132
Coach.
1827. LYTTON, Pelham, ch. Ixxxii.
They were gentlemen-sharpers, and not
vulgar cracksmen and CLYFAKERS.
1839. HARRISON AINSWORTH, Jack
Sheppard [1889], p. 14. 'Oh, I see !' re-
plied Blueskin, winking significantly. . . .
' Now ! slip the purse into my hand.
Bravo ! the best CI.Y-FAKER of 'em all ;
couldn't have done it better.'
1852. Punch, vol. XXIIL, p. 161.
1864. HOTTEN, Slang Diet., p. 103.
CLY-FAKER : a pickpocket.
CLY-FAKING, subs, (thieves'). —
Pocket-picking. For synonyms,
see PUSH.
1851. BORROW, Lavengro, ch. xxxi.,
p. 112 (1888). 'What do you mean by
CLY-FAKING?' 'Lor, dear! no harm;
only taking a handkerchief now and then.'
1861. H. KINGSLEY, Ravenshoe, ch.
Ix. Well, sir, I won't deny that the young
woman is Bess, and perhaps she may be on
the cross, and I don't go to say that what
with flimping, and with CLY-FAKING, and
such-like, she mayn't be wanted.
CLY-OFF, verb (old).— To carry off.
Cf.y CLY, verb, sense i.
1656. ^ BROME, Jovial Crew. Act ii.
Here safe in our skipper Let's CLY OFF our
peck, And bowse in defiance O' th' Har-
man-beck.
CLYSTER- PIPE, sul>s.(old). — An apo-
thecary. [From CLYSTER = an
injection for costiveness. ] Fr.,
un fldtencul, a play upon words.
For synonyms, see GALLIPOT.
1785. GROSE, Die. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
CLY THE GERKE or JERK, verbal
phr. (old). — See quots.
1567. HARMAN, Caveat (1814), p. 66.
To CLY THE GERKE, to get a whipping^
Cf.t tO COP A HIDING.
1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all,
p. 38 (H. Club's Repr., 1874), s.v.
1206. E. COLES, Eng. Die., s.v.
1827. LYTTON, Pelham, ch. Ixxxii.
You deserve to CLY THE JERK for your
patter.
COACH, subs, (formerly University
and public schools' ; now com-
mon).— A private tutor ; and in a
transferred sense one who trains
another in mental or physical
acquirements, e.g., in Sanskrit,
Shakspeare, cricket, or rowing.
Analogous terms are CRAMMER,
FEEDER, and GRINDER.
1850. F. E. SMEDLEY, Frank Fair-
leigh, ch. xxix., p. 240. Besides the regu-
lar college tutor, I secured the assistance
of what, in the slang of the day, we
irreverently termed a COACH.
1853. C. BEDE, Verdant Green, pt. I.,
pp. 63-4. ' That man is Cram, the patent
safety. He's the first COACH in Oxford.'
' A COACH,' said our freshman in some
wonder. 'Oh, I forgot you didn't know
college slang. I suppose a royal mail is
the only gentleman qoach you know of.
Why, in Oxford a COACH means a private
tutor you must know ; and those who
can't afford a COACH, get a cab alias a
crib alias translation.
1864. Eton School-days, ch. ix., p.
103. Lord Fitzwinton, one of the smallest
and best COACHES — in aquatics — in the
school.
1871. Times. ' Report of the Debate
in House of Lords on University Test
Bill." The test proposed would be wholly
ineffective . . . while it would apply
to the college tutors, who had little
influence over the young men, it would
not affect the COACHES, who had the
chief direction of their studies.
1889. Pall Mall Gazette, 29 Nov., p. i,
col. 3. The schoolmaster is concerned
with the education of boys up to eighteen ;
all beyond that falls either to the COACH
or the professor.
Verb (common). — To prepare
for an examination by private
instruction ; to train : in general
use both by coacher and coachee.
1846. THACKERAY, Vanity Fair, ch.
v. The superb Cuff himself . . . helped
him on with his Latin verses, COACHED him
in play -hours.
1870. London Figaro, June TO.
1 Quadrille Conversation.' It is, we fear,
Quixotic to hope that ladies and gentlemen
invited to the same ball would COACH
with the same master.
Coachee.
i33
Coat.
COACH EE, subs, (colloquial). — A
coachman. Cf., CABBY.
1819. THOS. MOORE, Tom Crib's
Mem. Cong', p. 79. This song ... in
which the language and sentiments of
COACHEE are transferred so ingeniously.
1825. English Spy^ I., pp. 134-5.
COACHING, verbal subs. (common).
— i. Instruction ; training, etc.
— See COACH, subs. French stu-
dents call it la barbe.
1836. Pluck Examination Papers for
Candidates at Oxford and Cambridge, by
SCRIBLERUS REDIVIVUS [Oxford]. The
system of COACHING pupils considerably
improved by the examiners becoming
pupils.
2. (Rugby School).— A flog-
ging. Now obsolete.
COACH MAN , subs, (anglers'). — A fly-
fisher's rod. [In allusion lo
whipping the stream.]
COACH-WHEEL, subs, (popular). —
A crown-piece, or five shillings.
For synonyms, see CART-WHEEL.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue.
COACH WHEEL : a half crown piece is a
fore COACH WHEEL, and a crown piece a
hind COACH WHEEL, the fore wheels of a
coach being less than the hind ones.
COAL. — See COLE.
To TAKE IN ONE'S COALS, or
WINTER COALS, phr. (nautical). —
To contract a venereal disease.
For synonyms, see LADIES'
FEVER.
COAL-Box, subs, (musical). — A
chorus. [Obviously ' music-
hally ' or ' circussy ' in deriva-
tion: a cross between rhyming
slang and a clown's WHEEZE
1809-70. MARK LEMON, Up and Down
London Streets. The slang word for
chorus, COAL BOX, if we might mention
anything so ungenteel.
COALEY, subs, (common). — A coal-
heaver, or porter.
1880. JAS. GREENWOOD, 'Diddler
Domesticus,' in Odd People in Odd Places,
p. 93. With such arguments the bargain
is driven to a conclusion, and the grateful
COALEY takes his departure.
1889. Star, 3 Dec., p. 3, col. 4. The
GOALIES demonstrated last night in right
novel fashion at St. Pancras Arches.
COALING or Co ALLY, adj, (theatri-
cal).— Among 'pros' a CO ALLY
or COALING part is one that is
grateful to the player. [Hotten
says it means ' profitable, ' and
derives it from COLE = money,
but this is doubtful. — See quot.]
1872. M. E. BRADDON, Dead Sea.
Fruit, ch. xiv. The gorger's awful
COALLY on his own slumming, eh? . . .
I mean to say that our friend the manager
is rather sweet upon his own acting.
COAL-SCUTTLE, subs, (common). —
A poke bonnet; modish once,
but now reserved for old-
fashioned Quakeresses and
* Hallelujah Lasses.' [From the
shape.]
1838. DICKENS, Nicholas Nickleby.
There was Miss Snevellici . . . glancing
from the depths of her COAL-SCUTTLB
bonnet at Nicholas.
COAT. To GET THE SUN INTO A
HORSE'S COAT, phr. (racing). —
Explained by quot.
1889. Standard. ' Sir Chas. Russell's
Speech in Durham - Chetwynd Case,'
June 25. An owner says to his trainer,
' I suppose, Mr. Jones, we'll have very
good luck to-morrow ? ' (laughter). ' Well
no, sir,' says the trainer ; ' I don t think
the horse has any chance to-morrow. The
fact is, he isn't fit.' A fortnight elapses,
and on comes another meeting at New-
market, and the owner goes down again,
and he sees the horse. To his uninitiated
eye the horse seems as well as when he
saw it on the previous occasion. In the
interval the trainer had ' slipped in a lot of
work into him,' I think that is the term,
and the owner, who thinks he knows
something about horses (laughter) says t,o
his trainer ' You'i e going to run this horse
Coax.
'34
Cobbler s Thumb.
to-morrow?" 'Oh, I think so, sir,' says
the trainer. ' But look here,' says the
owner, ' This is a much better class. He
is meeting this horse upon no better terms
than before.' ' But, sir,' says the trainer,
' he has greatly improved. The SUN HAS
GOT INTO HIS COAT.'
COAX, verb (old).— To dissemble
in the shoes the soiled or ragged
parts of a pair of stockings. —
[Grose, 1785.]
COB, subs, (prison). — I. A pun-
ishment cell. For synonyms,
see CLINCH.
2. (nautical). — Money. Espe-
cially given to a Spanish coin
formerly current in Ireland,
worth about 45. 8d. Also the
name still given at Gibraltar to
a Spanish dollar.
1805. Plymouth Newspaper of Feb.
24, quoted in ' Autobiography of a Sea-
man,' by Earl of Dundonald, vol. I., ch.
x., p. 174. His Lordship sent word to
Plymouth that, if ever it was in his power
he would fulfil his public advertisement
(stuck up here) for entering seamen, of
filling their pockets with Spanish ' pewter1
and COBS,' nicknames given by seamen to
ingots and dollars.
3. (Winchester College).—
A hard hit at cricket. Of
modern introduction. Cf., BAR-
TER.
Verb (schoolboys'). — I. To
detect, catch, etc.
2. (popular). — To humbug ;
deceive ; TO GAMMON (g.v.).
3. To hit hard. — See subs.t
sense 3.
COBB, verb (general). — To spank ;
to smack the posteriors with
(say) a tailor's sleeve-board.
1830. MARRYAT, King's Own. Gen-
tlemen, gentlemen, if you must COBB Mrs.
Skrimmage, for God's sake let it be over
tell.
COBBER, subs, (common). — A pro-
digious falsehood; i.e., 'a
THUMPER'; WHOPPER (q.v.).
COBBLE-COLTER, subs. (old). — A
turkey. Fr., une ornie de balle
and ^^nJe' suite. Cf., ALDERMAN
IN CHAINS.
1785. GROSE, Ztatf. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1837. DISRAELI, Venetia, p. 69.
' Gome, old mort,' said the leader, in a
very different tone to the one in which he
addressed his young guest, ' tout the
COBBLE-COLTER \ are we to have darkmans
upon us ?
COBBLED,///, adj. (schoolboys'). —
Caught ; detected ; spotted.
[From COB, verb, sense I.]
COBBLERS' KNOCK. To GIVE THE
COBBLER'S KNOCK or TO KNOCK
AT THE COBBLER'S DOOR, verbal
phr. (provincial). — A sort of
fancy sliding in which the artist
raps the ice in triplets with one
foot while progressing swiftly on
the other.
1836. DICKENS, Ptckwick,,\o\. ii.,ch. 2.
SamWeller , in particular was displaying that
beautiful feat of fancy sliding which is cur-
rently Called KNOCKING AT THE COBBLER'S
DOOR, and which is achieved by skimming
over the ice on one foot and occasionally
giving a postman's knock upon it with the
other.
COBBLERS' MARBLES, subs. phr.
(vulgar). — A corrupt pronuncia-
tion of cholera morbus, once a
name for Asiatic cholera.
COBBLER'S THUMB, subs. (Irish
localism). — A small fish ; the
bull-head, called in English the
MILLER'S THUMB.
1839. LEVER, Harry Lorrequer, cb.
xxvii. His hands and feet, forming some
compensation by their ample proportions,
give to his entire air and appearance
somewhat the look of a small fish, with
short, thick fins, vulgarly called a COBBLER'S
THUMB.
Cochineal Dye.
135
Cock.
COCHINEAL DYE, subs, (pugilistic).
— Blood. [From the colour.]
For synonyms, see CLARET.
1853. REV. E. BRADLEY ('Cuthbert
Bede'), VerdantGreen, pt. 11., p. 31. He
would kindly inquire of one gentleman,
' Whatd'yeask fora pint of your COCHINEAL
DYE?'
1883. Referee. It certainly seemed
that their stock-in-trade was largely com-
posed of COCHINEAL DYE ; there was in
truth no lack of the gory accessory of the
fight
COCK, subs, (common). — i. The
penis. Cf., Ger., Hahn, Han-
chen. [Possibly related to ' cock '
= turn-valve. J For synonyms,
see CREAM-STICK.
1600. SHAKSPEARE, King Henry V.,
ii. -L.—Cf.
1647. BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER.
The Custom of the County, v., 4. The
mainspring's weakened that holds up his
COCK.
1730 BAILEY Diet., s.v.
1737. RABELAIS. Trans. I., 185., s.v.
1807. RABELAIS. Trans. [LONGMAN'S
ed.]. s.v., I., 169.
1849. RABELAIS. Trans. [BOHN'S
ed.], s.v., I., 135.
2. (colloquial). — A chief or
leader ; particularly in such
phrases as COCK OF THE WALK,
SCHOOL, etc. [A simile drawn
from the barndoor.] Cf., stnse
3, and adj.
1711. Spectator, No. 131. Service to
the knight. Sir Andrew is grown the
COCK OF THE CLUB since he left us, and if
he does not return quickly will make every
mother's son of us commonwealth's men.
1729. SWIFT, Grand Question De-
bated. But at cuffs I was always the
COCK OF THE SCHOOL.
1764. O'HARA, Midas, I., i. COCK
OF THE SCHOOL. He bears despotic rule.
1811-63. W. M. THACKERAY, Mis-
cellanies, II., 275. There is no more
dangerous or stupifying position for a man
in life than to be a COCK OF SMALL
SOCIETY.
1862. MRS. H. WOOD, Channin^s,
ch. xxix. ' Were I going in for the senior-
ship, and one below me were suddenly
hoisted above my head, and made a COCK
OF THE WALK, I'd know the leason why.
3. (common). — A familiar
address ; e.g. , OLD COCK, or
JOLLY OLD COCK. [Probably de-
rived from sense I.] Amongst
similiar expressions may be men-
tioned OLD MAN, MY PIPPIN, and
in French, won vieux zig, or lapin.
1639. MASSINGER, Unnatural Com-
bat, II., i. He has drawn blood of him
yet : well done, OLD COCK.
1749. FIELDING, Tom Jones, bk.
XVIII., ch. x. Then give me thy fist, a't
as hearty an honest COCK as any in the
kingdom.
1825. The English Spy, vol. I., p. 215.
The low-bred, vulgar, Sunday throng, Who
dine at two, are ranged along On both
sides of the way ; With various views these
honest folk Descant on fashions, quiz and
joke, Or mark the SHY COCK down.*
1836. C. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers
(about 1827), p. 367 (ed. 1857). ' Do you
always smoke arter you goes to bed, OLD
COCK ? ' inquired Mr. Weller of his land-
Ford, when they had both retired for the
night. ' Yes, I does, young Bantam,' re-
plied the cobbler.
1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 278. The
people down here are a queer lot, but I
have hunted up two or three JOLLY COCKS,
and we contrive to keep the place alive
between us.
1855. THACKERAY, Newcomes, ch.
xvi. Shrewd OLD COCK, Mr. Binnie.
Has brought home a good bit of money
from India.
1870. London Figaro, 19 Oct. What
on earth is the meaning of Mr. Santley's
voice being over-crowed by a mammoth
orchestra? I never heard before that
fiddles crowed, or that Mr. Santley was a
COCK. He is what is known as a JOLLY.
COCK, but there his similarity to the noisy
fowl ends.
4. (racing). — A horse not in-
tended to win the race for which
it is put down, but kept in the
lists to deceive the public.
1887. Field, May 29. In the phrase-
ology of slangy turfites, the horse was a
COCK ; i.e., it had been liberally backed,
but was never intended to run.
* The Sunday men, as they are face-
tiously called in the fashionable world, are
not now so numerous as formerly ; the
facility of a trip across the channel enables
irnny a SHY COCK to evade the eye . . .
of the law.
Cock.
136
Cock.
5. (common). — Primarily the
fictitious narratives in verse or
prose of murders, fires, etc. (see
quot., 1851), produced for sale
in the streets. Famous manu-
factories of COCKS were kept by
* Jemmy ' Catnach and Johnny
Pitts, called the Colburn and
Bentley of the * paper ' trade.
They fought bitterly, and Cat-
nach informed the world that
Pitts had once been a ' bumboat
woman,' while Pitts declared —
That all the boys and girls around,
Who go out prigging rags and phials,
Know Jemmy Catnach ! ! ! well, Who lives
in a back slum in the Dials,
Catnach got at last to be ' Cock
of the Walk,' and remained so
till his retirement in 1839.
[Hotten thought the word might
be a corruption of cook, a ' cooked'
or garbled statement, or a coinage
from * cock and bull story. ']
Fr., une goualante.
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, Lon. Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 228. What are
technically termed COCKS, which, in
polite language, means accounts of fabu-
lous duels between ladies of fashion, of
apocryphal elopements ... or awful
tragedies, etc.
Hence applied to any in-
credible story.
1870. London Figaro, i Feb. We
are disposed to think that COCKS must
have penetrated to Eastern Missouri.
6. (thieves'). — An abbrevia-
tion of ' cockney.'
7. (printers'). — In gambling
or playing with ' quads,' a COCK
is when one (or more) of the
nine pieces does not fall flat but
lodges crosswise on another.
The player is then given another
chance.
8. (tailors'). — GOOD COCK —
POOR COCK. A good and bad
workman respectively.
Adj. (colloquial). — Chief; first
and foremost. Cf., COCK, subs.,
sense 2.
1676. ETHEREGE, Man of Mode, II.,
ii., in wks. (1704), 211. Why the very
cocK-fool of all those fools, Sir Fopling
Flutter.
1856. T. HUGHES, Tom Brown's
School-days, pt. II., ch. vi. They'll make
the old Madman COCK medicine-man and
tattoo him all over.
Verb (venery). — I. To copu-
late. Usually employed by wo-
men and in the passive sense :
e.g., 'to want cocking,' or 'to
get cocked.' For synonyms, see
RIDE.
2. (common). — To smoke.
COCK THE EYE, verbal phr.
(colloquial). — To shut or wink
one eye ; to leer ; to look in-
credulous. Fr., cligner des
ceillets. Cf., COCK-EYED. [In
venery a woman with A COCK IN
HER EYE = a woman in a con-
dition of sexual excitement, a
woman that 'means business.'
C/., PINTLE-KEEK (q.v.) and
LOOK PRICKS.] Of the kindred
phrase, to COCK THE CHIN, an
illustration appears in Elegant
Extracts.
As Dick and Tom in fierce dispute
engage, And face to face the noisy contest
wage; 'Don't COCK YOUR CHIN at me,1
Dick smartly cries. ' Fear not, his head's
not charg'd,' a friend replies.
The French equivalent is j'a-
borgner (literally ' to make one-
self blind of one eye by closing
it').
1751. SMOLLETT, Peregrine Pickle,
ch. ii. He . . . made wry faces, and, to
use the vulgar phrase, COCKED HIS EYE
at him, to the no small entertainment of
the spectators.
1836. MARRYAT, Japhet, ch. iv.
Timothy put on his hat, COCKED HIS EYE
.at jne, anjd Left us alone.
Cock.
'37
Cock-a-Hoop.
1859. J. EASTWOOD, in Notes and
Queries, 2 S., viii., 461. The phrase
COCK YOUR EYE is not at all an uncommon
one in Yorkshire — meaning * direct your
eye, give a glance.'
To COCK SNOOKS, verbal phr.
(common). — See COFFEE-MILL-
ING and SNOOKS.
THAT COCK WON'T FIGHT.
phr. (common). — Originally cock-
pit slang. Said of things pro-
blematical or doubtful.
1844. Puck, p. 124. 'Song of the
First Tragedian . . . having pawned his
properties.' Suppose I told my uncle what
I fear he'd not believe, That I'll certainly
repay him the money ere I leave ; That my
benefit when it comes off is sure to prove a
hit, I don't think, with a screw like him,
THAT COCK WOULD FIGHT A BIT.
BY COCK or BY COCK AND PYE.
phr. (old). — 'Cock' is here a
corruption, or disguise of 'God.'
We find also * cocks-passion,'
'cocks-body,' and other allusions
to the Saviour, or His body, as
supposed to exist in the Host :
the expression surviving the be-
lief. In BY COCK AND PYE, the
PIE, or Sacred Book of Offices is
added. BY COCK AND PIE AND
MOUSEFOOT, is quoted from the
old play of Soliman and Perseda,
Orig. of Drama, ii., p. 21 1.
1571. EDWARDS, Damon and Pythias,
Old PL, i., 216. W. By the masse I will
boxe you. /. BY COCKE I will foxe you.
1596. SHAKSPEARE, Hamlet, iv., 5.
BY COCKE they are to blame.
1598. SHAKSPEARE, Henry IV,, pt.
II., Act v., Sc. i. BY COCK AND PIE, sir,
you shall not away to-night.
1606. WILY, Beguilede. Now BY
COCK AND PIE, you never spoke a truer
word in your life.
KNOCKED A-COCK, adv. phr.
(pugilistic). — Knocked 'all of a
heap,' or 'out of time.' Ob-
viously adapted from the lingo of
the cock-pit, and suggested by
the sight of the beaten bird laid
on his back.
COCK-A-DOODLE BROTH, subs. phr.
(? nonce phrase). — See quot.
1856. READE, Never Too Late to
Mend, ch. Ixxxv. He complains that ' he
can't peck,' yet continues the cause of his
infirmity, living almost entirely upon
COCK-A-DOODLE BROTH, — eggs beat up in
brandy and a little water.
COCK-A-HOOP or COCK-ON (or IN A)-
HOOP, adj. (colloquial). — Strut-
ting ; triumphant ; high-spirited ;
'uppish.' [Ray suggested that it
refers to the practice of taking
out the spigot (an old synonym
for the penis, by the way) and
laying it on the top of a barrel
with a view to drinking the latter
dry ; a proceeding that would
naturally induce a certain swagger
in the actors. There seems, how-
ever, no doubt that the true deri-
vative is the French coq a houppe.
Houppe, in French, is a tuft,
touffe (and toupet, is kindred).
Littre says, terme de blason, tuft
of silk or tassel hanging from a
hat : ' Elle serf de timbre au cha-
peau des cardinaux, etc. Houppee
is the foam on the top of a wave.
Houppe is the tuft on a trencher
cap : ' Qui distingue? says Tarver,
' le bonnet des nobles de celui des
autres ' at the universities — hence
tuft-hunter, coureur de houppes.
Also, '// trou-ve a se fourrer parmi
les plus huppes ' = he contrives to
vie with those at the very top of
fashion. The Hoopoe, (Lat.
Uptipa), is a crested bird. Hence
coq a houppe is a crested cock, and
by analogy one swaggering, trium-
phant, exulting ; so ' cock-a-
hoop' is ' cock-a-top,' ' cock-a-
crest,' elated beyond reason —
'cocky,' as schoolboys say —
'cock of the walk,' 'cock at the
top.' In cock-fighting, the ' cock-
a-top ' is he that gets the vantage
stroke. ' Abattre Forgueil des
plus hiippes ' ; to bring down the
Cock-Ale.
138
Cockalorum.
crest of the highest. COCK-A-
HOOP is plainly the original ex-
pression, and COCK-ON-THE-HOOP
a later form adopted when the
original meaning had vanished.]
English equivalents are ' IN FULL
FEATHER,' and ' A-COCK-HORSE '
(q-v.}t while colloquial French
has s'en pourlecher la face and
s' emerillonner (to become cheerful
through repeated potations).
1595. SHAKSPEA~RE,fiome0and/u?iet,
Act i., Sc. 5. Am I the master here or
you ? Go to ... You will set COCK-A-
HOOP ! you'll be the man.
16c3. JONSON, Tale of a Tub,N., ii.
John Clay agen ! nay then — set COCK-A-
HOOP : I have lost no daughter, nor no
money, justice.
1707. WARD, Hudibras Redivivus,
ol. II., pt. XII., p. 20. Those cruel,
sanctify'd Pretenders, Now rais'd by
Fortune, COCK-A-HOOP.
1853. Diogenes, II., 195. 'Our Foreign
News Summary.' All the COCK-A-HOOP
BEYS in the Sultan's dominions Have
taken to expressing their individual
opinions.
1885. D. C. MURRAY, Rainbow Gold,
bk. IV., ch. vi. He's a fine lad, a fine
lad, but COCK-A-WHOOP, and over certain
for his years
COCK-ALE, subs. (old). — A homely
aphrodisiac. — [Grose, 1785.]
[An allusion to the penis and the
stirring tendency of strong beer.]
Nares says it was ' a sort of ale
which was very celebrated in the
seventeenth century for its superior
quality.'
1675. Woman Turrid Bully [quoted
in Nares]. Spr. How, Mr. Trupenny,
not a drop worth drinking ? Did you ever
taste our COCK-ALE ?
1698. WARD, London Spy. My friend
by this time (knowing the entertainment
of the house) had called for a bottle of
COCK-ALE, of which I tasted a glass, but
could not conceive it to be anything but
a mixture of small beer and treacle. If
this be COCK-ALE, said I, e'en let cocks-
combs drink it. [N.]
1738. Poor Robin. Notwithstanding
the large commendations you give the
juice of barley, yet if compar'd with
canary, it's no more than a mole-hill to a
mountain ; whether it be COCK- ALE, China
ale, etc. [N.]
Also COCK-BROTH, etc.
COCK ALLEY, subs. (old). — The
female pudendum. Other deri-
vations of the same make are
COCK - CHAFER, COCK HALL,
COCK INN, COCK LANE, COCK-
LOFT, COCK-PIT, COCKSHIRE,
and COCK-SHY. For synonyms,
see MONOSYLLABLE.
COCKALORUM or COCKYLORUM,
subs, (common). — I. A half con-
temptuous address. — See quot.
1815-23. T. C. CARTER, in Daily
News, 7 Dec., 1889, p. 3, col. 5. In 1823
was displayed in a shop window in Pilgrim
Street, Ludgate Hill, a picture entitled
' Seizure for Rent.' It represented the in-
terior of a room ; the only article of furni-
ture a bottomless chair, on the edge of
which was seated a half-clad man smoking
a pipe. The doorway was filled up by a
very fat beadle in full uniform ; behind
him in the shade could be seen two men,
each with a porter's knot. To the beadle
the tenant was saying : ' Now then, old
COCKALORUM jig, seize away.' In my
school days, from 1815 to 1820, we often
heard in the playground : ' Now little
COCKALORUM, out of that.'
2. (schoolboys'). — A rough
and tumble game described as
follows by a correspondent of the
Pall Mall Gazette (1890, Jan. 4,
p. 2, col. i): —
When I went to Harrow, thirty years
ago, I found a winter evening game in
force there, called ' high COCKALORUM,'
of which I send you a sketch. The
players used to divide into two opposing
bands of from twelve to fourteen each —
in fact, the more the merrier. One side
' went down,' so as to constitute a long
' hogsback ' — the last boy having a couple
of pillows between himself and the wall,
and each boy clasping his front rank
man, and carefully tucking his own
' cocoa-nut ' under his right arm, so as
to prevent fiacture of the vertebrae.
When the hogsback was thus formed, the
other side came on, leap-frogging on to
Cock-and-BreecJies. '39 Cockatoo Fanner.
the backs of those who were down, the
best and steadiest jumpers being sent
first. Sometimes the passive line was
broken quite easily by the ruse of a short
high jump, coming with irresistible im-
pulse on a back which was not expecting
weight just yet. Sometimes a too ambi-
tious leap - frogger ruined his party by
overbalancing and falling off. It was,
however, as the last two or three leap-
froggers came on that the real excite-
ment more generally began. There was
absolutely no back-space belonging to
the other party left to them ; and they
were obliged to pile themselves one upon
another — ' Pelion on Ossa ' as it was
called. When the last man was up it
was his duty to say, ' High COCKALORUM
jig Jig jig— high COCKALORUM jig jig jig-
high COCKALORUM jig jig jig— off, off, off,'
and then alone was it permissible for
tortured and perspiring human nature to
fall in one indistinguishable heap to the
ground. The repeater of the shibboleth
often fell off himself as he was uttering the
above incantation — thus losing the victory
for his side. It was a splendid game. I
understood from family inquiries that it
was played at Harrow in my great grand-
father's time.
COCK AND-BREECHES, subs, (com-
mon). — A sturdy, little man, or
boy.
COCK-AND-BULL-STORY,J«^.(collo-
quial). — An idle or silly story.
[Presumably from some old
legend of a cock and a bull,
apropos to , which it should be
noted that the French equiva-
lent is coq-a-Vdnet a cock-and-
ass.']
1603. JOHN DAY, Law Trickes, Act
iv., p. 66. Didst marke what a tale of a
COCK AND A BULL he tolde my father
whilst I made thee and the rest away.
1759. STERNE, Tristram Shandy,
vol. IX., ch. xxxiii. L — d ! said my
mother, what is all this about ? A COCK
AND A BULL, said Yorick — and one of the
best of its kind I ever heard.
1857. O. W. HOLMES, Autocrat of
the Breakfast Table, ch. v. That sounds
like a COCK-AND-BULL STORY, said the
young fellow whom they call John. I
abstained from making Hamlet's remarks
to Horatio and continued.
1874. MRS. H-Woon, Johnny Ludlow,
i S., xxiv., p. 432. ' Giving ear to a COCK-
AND-BULL STORY that can't be true ! '
COCK-AND-H EN-CLUB, subs, (com-
mon).— i. A free and easy
gathering, or 'sing-song,' where
females are admitted as well
as males. [From COCK-AND-
HEN, the male and female bird,
and used figuratively for men
and women, + CLUB.]
1819. THOS. MOORE, Tom Crib's
Mem. to Congi., p. 78. A Masquerade,
or Fancy Ball, given lately at one of the
most fashionable COCK-AND-HEN CLUBS
in St. Giles's.
1828. G. SMEETON, Days in London,
p. 40. Introduced him to one of the COCK-
AND-HEN HOUSES near Drury Lane Theatre
well primed with wine.
2. A club for both sexes ;
e.g., The Lyric.
COCK- AND- PINCH, subs. (old). —
The old-fashioned beaver of
forty years since. [From its
being COCKED back and front,
and PINCHED at the sides.] For
synonyms, see GOLGOTHA.
COCKATOO-FARMER, subs. (Austra-
lian).— In Victoria and New
South Wales a small farmer or
selector. A term of contempt
used by large holders in describ-
ing agricultural squatters with
small capital. [Probably an
allusion to their numbers : a
comparing to the rush for land,
the swooping of cockatoos in
myriads in new sown corn.]
1865. H. KINGSLEY, Hillyars and
Burtons, ch. Ix. The small farmers [in
Australian wool districts] contemptu-
ously called COCKATOOS are the fathers
of fire, the inventors of scab, the seducers
of bush-hands for haymaking and harvest-
ing [and many other heinous crimes].
1886. G. SUTHERLAND, Australia,
p. 64. The shepherd king tries to steal
a march upon the poor COCKATOO, as he
contemptuously calls the small farmer.
1887. G. A. SALA, in ///. L. News,
12 March, 282, col. 2. I venture to differ
from my correspondent when, in telling
Cockatrice.
Cocked Hat.
me that ' cocky ' is Australian argot for
a small farmer, adds, 'by-the-by, you
never hear the word "farmer" over there
. . . many scores of times at the Antipodes
I have heard agriculturists, whose holdings
were small, spoken of, not as "cockies"
but as "COCKATOO FARMERS." '
COCKATRICE, subs. (old). — i. A
common prostitute ; also a mis-
tress or ' keep. ' [Nares says
* probably from the fascination
of the eye,' alluding to the
fabulous monster hatched from
a cock's egg by a serpent.
Shakspeare speaks of ' the death-
dealing ' eye of a COCKATRICE.]
For synonyms, see BARRACK-
HACK and TART.
1600. BEN JONSON, Cynth Rev., IV.,
4. And withall, calls me at his pleasure
I know not how many COCKATRICES and
things.
1604. MARSTON AND WEBSTER, Mal-
content, O. P., iv., 93. No courtier but
has his mistress, no captain but has his
COCKATRICE.
1630. TAYLOR, Workes [quoted by
Nares]. And amongst souldiers this sweet
piece of vice Is counted for a captaines
COCKATRICE.
1664. KILLEGREW, Pandora. Some
wine there, That I may court my COCKA-
TRICE. Care. Good Captaine, Bid our
noble friend welcome.
1740. Poor Robin. Some gallants
will this month be so penurious that they
will not part with a crack'd groat to a poor
body, but on their COCKATRICE or pun-
quetto will bestow half a dozen taffety
gowns, who in requital bestows on him the
French pox.
2. (common). — A baby.
COCK-A-WAX, subs, (common). — i
A cobbler. [From COCK a man
(q.v.}, + A + WAX, an adjunct
of the cobbler's trade.] For
synonyms, see SNOB.
2. A familiar address.
COCK-BAWD, subs."* (old). — A male
brothel keeper. [Quoted in
Grose (i 785).]
COCKCHAFER, subs, (thieves'). — i.
The treadmill. For synonyms,
see WHEEL OF LIFE.
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. II., p. 59. ' He en-
piated,' as it is called, this offence by
three months' exercise on the COCKCHAFER
(treadmill).
1864. Glasgow Citizen, Nov. 19. The
Jeremy Diddler who forges his honest
name to a fakement, incurring thereby a
drag at the COCKCHAFER.
2. (venery). — The female
pudendum.
3. (venery). — See COCK-
TEASER.
COCKED-HAT. To BE KNOCKED
INTO A COCKED HAT, verbal phr.
(common). — To be limp enough
to be doubled up and carried
flat under the arm [like the
COCKED HAT of an officer.]
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. To be
doubled up ; knocked into the
middle of next week ; spiffli-
cated ; beaten to a jelly ; knocked
a-cock ; wiped out ; sent all of a
heap ; bottled up ; settled ; to
get beans, or snuff; sent, done,
or smashed to smithereens, etc. —
See also TAN, TANNING, and
WIPE.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Effondrer
quelqu'un (popular : literally ' to
dig into one' ; effondrer unevolaille
= to draw a fowl) ; tatouiller
quelqu^un (popular : tatouiller is
a slang term for a thrashing) ;
soigner quelqu'un (popular : pro-
perly 'to take care of,' or 'to
attend,' * to nurse') ; se faire
echarpiller (popular); deboulonner
la colonne a quelqu'un (popular) ;
decarcasser quelqu'un (popular) ;
manger le nez a quelqu'un (popu-
lar : literally * to eat one's nose').
1870. Daily Telegraph, 20 Aug.,
1 Speech of Mr. Ralph Harrison at the
Crystal Palace.' The publication of the
Cocker
Cocking.
Morning Star on March 17, 1856, it was
prophesied, would knock the Daily Tele-
graph into A COCKED HAT.
1877. C. RF.ADE, The Jilt, I., in
Belgravia, March, p. 59. I never knew a
Welsh girl yet who couldn't dance an
Englishman into A COCKED HAT.
1881. HAWLEY SMART, Gt. Tontine,
ch. xxx. I think now we may consider
Bob Pegram's marriage as knocked pretty
well into A COCKED HAT.
1889. Pall Mall Gaz., 18 Sept. p. 2,
col. 3. You give in the Pall Mall of to-
night three translations of Plato's well-
known epigram. Permit me to give you
another which in my opinion KNOCKS all
THE REST INTO A COCKED HAT.
Also in the moral sense to be
amazed to stupefaction and
speechlessness.
COCKER, ACCORDING TO COCKER,
adv. phr. (colloquial). — Accord-
ing to rule ; properly, arithme-
tically, or correctly done. [From
old Cocker, a famous writing
master in Charles II. time,
author of a treatise on arith-
metic. Professor de Morgan
notes ' that it became a pro-
verbial representative of arith-
metic from Murphy's farce of
The Apprentice (1756), in which
the strong point of the old mer-
chant Wingate is his extreme
reverence for COCKER and his
arithmetic.'] In America a
similar locution is according to
GUNTER (q.v.\ Gunter was a
famous arithmetician a century
before Cocker, and the American
is no doubt the older phrase.
The old laws of Rhode Island
say, * All casks shall be gauged
by the rule commonly known
as "gauging by Gunter.'" Among
sailors, the standard of appeal
is ACCORDING TO JOHN NORIE
— the compiler of a popular
Navigators Manual.
1851. MAYHEW, Lon. Lab. and L on.
Poor. ' Answers to Correspondents.'
Surely, to increase the quantity of labour,
while the amount expended in the direct
purchase of that labour remains the same,
is ACCORDING TO COCKER — to decrease the
wages in precisely the same proportion.
1861. T. HUGHES, Tom Brown at
Oxford, ch. xxxii., p. 337. Well, so you
ought to be, ACCORDING TO COCKER,
spending all your time in sick rooms.
1883. G. A. S[ALA], in ///. L. News,
Nov. ^ 24, p. 499, col. 2. The average
American may not know what we mean
by ACCORDING TO COCKER ; while the
average Englishman may be unaware of
the meaning of 'according to Gunter.'
They both mean the same thing ; implying
irreproachable accuracy in computation.
1888. GRANT ALLEN, This Mortal
Coil, ch. ii. ACCORDING TO COCKER
nought and nought make nothing.
COCK-EYED, adj. (common). —
Squinting. [C/. , COCK THE EYE. ]
For synonyms, see SQUINNY-EYE.
1884. Daily News, Nov. 27, p. 2, col.
2. I am told the proper description of him
would be a little man with a COCK-EYE.
COCK-FIGHTING. THAT BEATS COCK
FIGHTING, phr. (common). — A
general expression of approval
. — up to the mark; A i. [From
the esteem in which the sport
was held.]
1659. GAUDEN, Tears of the Church,
p. 228. Ministers' scufflings and contests
with one another is BEYOND ANY COCK
FIGHTING or Bear-baiting to the vulgar
envy, malice, profaneness, and petu-
lancy.
1884. W. C. RUSSELL, Jack's Court-
ship, ch. vi. ' Well, roast me ! ' cried he,
viewing me with a kind of admiration ;
' if this don't BEAT COCK FIGHTING.'
COCK-HORSE, adv. phr. (old).
Triumphant ; in full swing ; cock-
a-hoop. Halliwell says, ' a some-
what slang expression not quite
obsolete. '
COCKING.— .&<? COCK, verb, sense i.
Cockish.
Cockney*
COCKISH, adj. (old). — Wanton ;
'on heat.' [From COCK, the
penis, + ISH.] Latham quotes
COCKISH in the sense of
'pert, 'from the strutting of the
barn-door cock.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue.
A COCKISH wench : a forward, coming
girl.
COCK IT, "verb (tailors'). — To exa-
mine ; see ; or speak of (a thing).
COCKLES, subs, (venery). — The
labia minor a.
COCKLES OF THE HEART, subs.phr.
(common). — A jocose vulgarism
encountered in a variety of com-
binations; e.g.) ' that will rejoice'
or 'tickle' or ' warm the COCKLES
OF YOUR HEART,' etc. [It IS
suggested (N. and Q., 7 S., iv.,
26) that a hint as to its origin
may be found in Lower, an
eminent anatomist of the seven-
teenth century, who thus speaks
in his Tractatus de Corde
(1669), p. 25, of the muscular
fibres of the ventricles.
' Fibrae quidem rectis hisce exteri
pribus in dextro ventriculo proxime sub-
jectae oblique dextrorsum ascendentes in
basin cordis terminantur, et spirali suo
ambitu helicem sive cochleam satis apte
referunt.'
The ventricles of the heart might,
therefore, be called cochlea cordis,
and this would easily be turned
into COCKLES OF THE HEART.]
The French say, Tu fen pour-
lecheras la face (that'll rejoice the
cockles of your heart).
1671. E A c H A R p, Observations
[Wright]. This contrivance of his did
inwardly rejoice the COCKLES OF HIS
HEART.
1822. SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel, ch.
xxvi. Which would have cheered the
COCKLES of the reigning monarch.
1834. MARRYAT, Jacob Faithful, ch.
xii. 'There now, master, there's a glass
of grog for you that would float a marling-
spike. See if that don't warm the
COCKLES OF YOUR OLD HEART.'
1839. W. H. AINSWORTH, Jack
Sheppard, p. 49 (ed. 1840). ' There, Mr.
Wood,' cried David, pouring out a glass
of the spirit, and offering it to the car-
penter, 'that'll warm the COCKLES OF
YOUR HEART.'
To CRY COCKLES, verbal phr.
(common). — To be hanged.
[From the gurgling noise made
in strangulation. ] For synonyms,
see LADDER.
COCK-LOFT, subs. (old). — The head.
[A COCK-LOFT is properly a small
loft, garret, or apartment at the
top of a house. Cf., GARRET,
UPPER STOREY, etc.] An old
proverb runs, ' All his gear is in
his COCK-LOFT'; i.e., 'all his
wealth, work, or worth is in his
head.' For synonyms, see
CRUMPET.
1642. THOMAS FULLER, Holy and
Profane State, And. Ad. fen. i. Often
the COCKLOFT is empty, in those whom
nature hath built many stories high.
COCKNEY, subs, (colloquial). — One
born within the sound of bow-
bells. [The origin of COCKNEY
has been much debated ; but,
says Dr. Murray, in the course of
an exhaustive statement (Academy,
May 10, 1890, p. 320), the history
of the word, so far as it means a
person, is very clear and simple.
We have the senses (i) 'cockered
or pet child,' 'nestle-cock,' 'mo-
ther's darling,' ' milksop,' the
name being applicable primarily
to the child, but continued to the
squeamish and effeminate man
into which he grows up. (2) A
nickname applied by country
people to the inhabitants of great
towns, whom they considered
'milksops,' from their daintier
habits and incapacity for rough
Cockney- Shire. J43
Cock-Shy.
work. York, London, Perugia,
were, according to Harman, all
nests of cockneys. (3) By about
1600 the name began to be
attached especially to Londoners,
as the representatives par excel-
lence of the city milksop. One
understands the disgust with
which a cavalier in 1641 wrote
that he was ' obliged to quit
Oxford at the approach of Essex
and Waller, with their prodigious
number of cockneys.']
1607. DEKKER, Westward Ho, Act
ii., Sc. 2. As Frenchmen love to be bold
. . . and Irishmen to be costermongers, so
COCKNEYS, especially SHE-COCKNEYS, love
not aqua-vitae when 'tis good for them.
1760. FOOTE, Minor, Act i. But
you COCKNEYS now beat us suburbians at
our own weapons.
1840. THACKERAY, Paris Sketch
Book, p. 28. ' You 'ad such an 'eadach',
sir,' said British, sternly, who piques him-
self on his grammar and pronunciation,
and scorns a COCKNEY.
1889. Pall Mall Gaz., 6 Nov., p. 3,
col. 2. London mist, when turned into
London black fog by the poisonous
carbonic anhydride and sulphurous anhy
dride with which it is loaded, encompasses
all COCKNEYS, good or bad with a real
danger to health and life
COCKNEY-SHIRE, subs. (common).
— London. [From COCKNEY,
a native of London, + SHIRE.]
COCK PIMP, subs. (old). — The hus-
band, real or supposed, of a
bawd or procuress. [From COCK,
male, + PIMP, a procurer.] — Grose
COCKQUEAN, subs, (obsolete). — A
man who interests himself in
women's affairs. The common
form is ' cotquean. ' Cf. , MOLLY.
COCKROACHES. To GET or EAT
COCKROACHES, verbal phr. (old).
— To practise masturbation. For
synonyms, see FRIG.
COCK-ROBIN, subs. (old). — A soft,
easy fellow. — Grose [1785].
COCK-ROBIN SHOP, subs. phr. (prin-
ters'). — A small printing office,
for cheap work done at vile wages.
In other trades a SLOP SHOP.
1888. R. R., in Notes and Queries,
7 S., v., 333. Let me advise collectors of
such things [cheap books] to avoid the
regular booksellers, and try the COCK-ROBIN
SHOPS, and the general dealers in small
wares, down back streets.
COCKS, subs, (popular). — I. See
COCK, subs., sense 2.
2. (trade). — Explained by
quotation. The word appears
to be slang for anything ficti-
tious. Cf., COCKS, subs. , sense 2.
1880. Daily Nevus, Nov. 4. [Quoted
in N. andQ., 6 S., ii., p. 387.]
3. (Charterhouse). — A lava-
tory where changing for games,
washing before meals, etc., goes
on. [From the taps over the
basins.] It is equivalent to the
Winchester MOAB .v..
COCK'S EGG. To GIVE ONE A
COCK'S EGG, phr. (common). —
To send one on a fool's errand ;
to GAMMON (g.v. for synonyms).
The expression is of the same
type as ' to send one to buy
pigeon's milk,' ' oil of strappum,'
' strap oil,' etc
COCK-SHY, subs, (popular). — A
mark, butt, or target ; any per-
son or thing that is the centre
of jaculation.
c. 1834. MARRYAT, Rattlin the Reefer,
p. 02. What a fine COCKSHY he would
make, said Master Blubberlips.
ISC') LORD STRANGFORD, Letters
and Papers, p. 215. This was as if the
great geologists . . . had invited two
rival theorists to settle the question of a
Cock- Stand.
144
Cock- Teaser.
geological formation by picking up the
stones and appealing to the test of a
COCKSHY.
1849. THACKERAY, Pendennis, ch. iii.
He had seen Tom Ricketts, of the fourth
form, who used to wear a jacket and
trousers so ludicrously tight, that the
elder boys could not forbear using him in
the quality of a butt or COCKSHY.
1876. HINDLEY, Life and Adventures
of a Cheap Jack, p. 262. A desperate
fight ensued, the 'nobblers' arming
themselves with COCK-SHY sticks.
COCK-STAND, subs, (venery). — An
erection of the fenis. For syn-
onyms, see HORN and C/.,
STAND.
COCK-SUCKER, subs, (venery). — A
feliatrix.
COCKSURE, 0^'. (colloquial). — Con-
fidently certain; pertly sure.
[Probably a corruption of
* cocky sure.' We call a self-
confident, overbearing prig a
cocky fellow, from the barnyard
despot. Shakspeare (/ Henry
IV., ii., i) employs the phrase
in the sense of * sure as the cock
of a firelock.'
We steal as in a castle, COCKSURE :
and still earlier usages imply its
derivation from the fact that the
cock was much surer than the
older fashioned match.]
1549. LATIMER, Sermon on the
P toughers, p. 32 (Arber's ed.) For the
Deuyll was dysapoynted of his purpose
for he thoughte all to be hys owne. And
when he had once broughte Christe to the
crosse, he thought all COCK-SURE.
1603. JOHN DAY, Law Trickes, Act
iii., p. 39. Then did I learn to ....
Make false conueyances, yet with a trick,
Close and COCK-SURE, I cony-catch'd the
world.
1667. DRYDEN, Sir Martin Marr-all,
Act. iv. Nothing vexes me, but that I
had made my game COCK-SURE, and then
to be backgammoned.
b. 1738, d. 1819. WOLCOT ('Paul
Pindar'), Odes to the Pope, II., in wks.
(Dublin, 1795) V. ii., p. 492. Yet deem
themselves, poor dupes, COCKSURE of
Heav'n.
1837. R. H. BARHAM, Thelngoldsby
Legends (ed. 1862), 320. Last of all, gentle
Reader, don't be too secure ! — Let seeming
success never make you COCK-SURE.
1849. T. CARLYLE, IV., 108. [Yes,
Manning was shot there ; he had told us
Hyde was COCKSURE.]
1884. W. C. RUSSELL, Jack's Court-
ship, ch. iii. ' Hawke will not get his
daughter to have him, he may be COCK-
SURE of that.'
1889. The Star, Aug. 24, p. 3, col. 4.
In his most insolent and COCKSURE manner
he declared, etc.
COCKTAIL, subs, (common). — i. A
prostitute ; a wanton.
2. (common). — A coward.
3. (American). — A drink com-
posed of spirits (gin, brandy,
whisky, etc.), bitters, crushed
ice, sugar, etc., the whole whisked
briskly until foaming, and then
drunk 'hot.'
COCKTAIL or COCKTAIL ED, adj.
(military). — Unsoldierlike ; un-
even ; showing bad form ; and in
its specifically military sense, any-
thing unworthy of the regular
army. For example, at one
time the Volunteer auxiliaries
were described as ' such a COCK-
TAILED CREW.'
1877. Five Years Penal Servitude,
ch. ii., p. 67. He confessed he not only
urged his brother into it, but compelled
him to be as bad as himself, and had
thrashed him many times for turning
COCKTAIL.
COCK-TEASER, or COCKCHAFER,
subs, (venery). — A girl in the
habit of permitting all familiarities
but the last.
Cock-up.
145
Cocum.
COCK-UP, subs, (printers').— What
is technically known as a ' supe-
rior'; e.g., the smaller letters
in the following examples :
Ye Limtd Compy ; Jno- Smith,
Senr- ; N°- ; London '
COCKED -UP, adj. — See COCKY.
COCK UP ONE'S TOES, verbal phr.
(thieves'). — To die. For syno-
nyms, see ALOFT and HOP THE
TWIG.
1820. REYNOLDS. ('Peter Cor-
coran '), The Fancy. ' King Tims the
First.' Now I see a neighbour COCK HIS
TOE — Walk by his side in black — in well
paid woe.
1864. E. D. FORGUES, in Revue des
deux Mondes, Sep. 15, p. 472, note. COCK
ONE'S TOES. Cette . . . locution, si bi-
zarre au premier coup d'oeil, doit s'expli-
quer par un des phenomenes de la retrac-
tion cadaverique ; les pieds du mort,
ramenes en arriere, ont pu rappeler la
position que prend le chien de la batterie
quand le fusil est arme.
COCKY or COCKING, adj. (popular).
— I. Pert or saucy ; forward ;
coolly audacious ; over confident,
'botty.' [Formerly COCKING. An
allusion to the strut of the barn-
door bird.] Fr., se gourer,
to be cocky ; also se gonfler,
faire sa merde, and faire .son
matador.
1711. Spectator, No. 153. But the
COCKING young fellow who treads upon
the toes of his elders, and the old fool
who envies the saucy pride he sees in him,
are the objects of our present contempt
and derision.
1820. CLARE, Poems of Rural Life,
Familiar Epistle, st. 5. I've long been
aggravated shocking, To see our gentry
folks go COCKING
1856. T. HUGHES, Tom Brown's
School-days, pt. II., ch. vi. 'It seems so
COCKY in me to be advising you.'
1864. Glasgow Citizen, Nov. 19.
Cotgrave (1672) gives us ' Herr, master or
sir; a rogue.' Aleman ['The Spanish
Rogue '] Vousfaite du Herr. ' You are
very COCKIT, or lusty ; you take too much
upon you.' Is it not gratifying to know
that COCKINESS is older than this century,
in which it has been developed to so alarm-
ing an extent?
. 1872. The Scotsman, 29 Oct. ' Sir J.
Pakington at Stourbridge.' He should
be inclined to offer him a little homely
advice, and to tell him in somewhat plain
language ' Not to be too COCKY.'
1884. Cornhill Mag., April, p. 442.
' Davis,' said Toddy, ' you haven't had a
banging this term, and you're getting
COCKY.'
2. (Stock Exchange). — Brisk ;
active — applied to the money
market.
1871. Figaro, 3 June. 'Notes on
Change.' Everything again brisk, and
the market, what is expressly termed
COCKY.
COCOA-NUT, subs, (general). — The
head. Fr. le coco. For synonyms,
see CRUMPET.
1834. W. H. AINSWORTH, Rookivood,
p. 176 (ed. 1864). ' A thousand pities
that so fine a fellow should have a sconce
like a COCOA-NUT ! '
1840. HALI BURTON, Clockmaker, 3
S., ch. iii. 'The Major a-pokin' along
with his COCOA-NUT down, a-studyin' over
somethin' or another quite deep.'
c. 1880. Broadside Ballad, 'Waltz-
ing Round the Water-butt.' Gaily the
troubadour will waltz round the water-
butt, Blissful the happy thoughts that
float round my COCOA-NUT, Moonlight
and spooning 'neath the old hazel tree !
THAT ACCOUNTS FOR THE
MILK IN THE COCOA-NUT, phr.
(common). — A rejoinder upon
having a thing explained for the
first time.
TO HAVE NO MILK IN THE
COCOA-NUT, phr. — To be insane ;
silly ; ' cracked. ' — See APART-
MENTS.
COCUM, KOCUM, subs, (common).
— I. Shrewdness; ability; luck;
cleverness. [From the Hebrew
10
Cocum.
146
Cocum.
chochum, chochem, or coehem,
crafty ; learned, wise, or a wise
man. The term is found passim
in early Hebrew literature, espe-
cially in the BOOK OF PROVERBS :
' A COCHEM will hear and increase
learning ' (Prov. i. 5). The slang
sense has been introduced by the
Whitechapel Jews. In Yiddish
cochemercx cochem, the pronuncia-
tion of which is not dissimilar to
COCUM, means wisdom ; cochum-
wirth = a thieves' landlord. (Cf.t
paragraph on German analogues. )
Cocma is another Hebraism used
by London Jews in a similar sense,
but it has not made its way into
slang.
ENGLISH ANALOGUES. Real
jam (this in the sense of anything
exceptionally good or lucky) ; all
beer and skittles (extremely plea-
sant) ; rattling (extremely jolly,
pleasant, or well appointed) ; to be
in clover (happiness and luck) ; to
stand on velvet (a variant of the
last mentioned) ; to be cracking
a tidy crust (to be doing very
well) ; to be having a good swim
(thieves' for a good run of luck,
i.e., being a long time out of the
policeman's clutches) ; well bal-
lasted ; on the spot ; up to Dick ;
on it ; right ; and so forth.
FRENCH ANALOGUES. Etre de
la bonne (popular : to be lucky) ;
decrocher la limballe (popular) ;
fare de la fete (popular and
thieves') ; avoir des as dans son j en
(popular : to have an advantage,
* to be in luck's way ') ; avoir Fas-
siette ati beurre (popular : to be
fortunate in life) ; bidard (m.
lucky) ; fare de la bale (popular).
GERMAN ANALOGUES. Chochom,
Choc hem, Chochemer (which He-
braism is the root of the English
COCUM. Among German thieves
who more frequently spell the
word Kochem, Kochemer, the
meaning is almost identical with
that given it by their English
brethren, except that the wisdom,
profit, or luck, applies almost
solely to the results of crooked
ways and dealings. Chochom and
its variants signify, therefore, the
cunning, prudent, and successful
vagabond ; Chochem lehorre =
a dangerous vagabond, one who
is prepared for the worst; Cho~
chem mechutten — z. bad patron, a
dangerous companion, a rogue of
the worst type; Chochme = wis-
dom, cunning, circumspection, or
the practice of swindling).
ITALIAN ANALOGUES. Cavaz-
zonare (literally ' to place well or
be well placed') ; aver primavera
(this applies to COCUM as repre-
sented by pleasure ; literally ' to
have spring ').
SPANISH ANALOGUES. Cucara*
chera (/; a vulgarism for luck or
good fortune) ; harlarse buena
cttcarachera (to be lucky or
fortunate) ; potroso (a collo-
quialism signifying lucky ;
literally 'afflicted with a rup-
ture ') ; charangiiero (m ; a lucky
fellow, one with COCUM) ; hijo de
la gallina blanca (a lucky bird).
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon, Poor, vol. I., p. 279.^ ' It's
decent and comfortable too, and it's abou
6d. a night to me for singing and patter in
the tap-room. That's my COKUM (advan-
tage).'
1861. EARL, Ups and Downs of
Australian Life, p. 224. ' No one was to
get drunk, the governor said as how it
wasn't COKUM, and he wouldn't have it, —
and so we were all fit for work the next
day.1
1864. HOTTEN, Slang Diet., s.v.
* Jack's got COCUM, he's safe to get on, he
is,' viz., he starts under favourable circum-
stances.
Cod.
147
Coddam.
c. 1886. Broadside Ballad, ' The
Flippity Flop Young Man.' I once was a
Member-for-Slocum young man, And for
Parliament had a strong fancy, A know-
pretty-well-what-is-KOCUM young man
When addressing a constituency.
2. (publishers'). — A sliding
scale of profit. [Publishers
sometimes issue books with-
out fixing the published price.
These they sell to the retail trade
at a fixed sum, leaving the book-
seller to make what he can.
TO FIGHT or PLAY COCUM,
verbal phr. (common). To play
double ; to be waiy, cunning, or
'artful.'
1857. SNOWDEN, Mag. Assistant
(3 ed.), p. 445) s.v. To be cunning, wary,
or sly.
1885. Referee, April 26, p. i, col. 2.
The best show in the- Crawfurd Plate-
that is, unless a lot of the pulling-up
division were PLAYING COKUM — was that of
Ptolemy.
COD, subs, (common). — I. A fool.
[Cf., COD'S HEAD, of which it is
possibly an abbreviation.] For
synonyms, see BuFFLE and CAB-
BAGE-HEAD.
2. (tailors'). — A drunkard. —
[See verb) sense 2.]
3. (thieves'). -—A purse; a
COD of money = a large sum of
money. [A.S. cod or codd, a
small bag.] For synonyms, see
POGE.
4. (street). — A 'pal' or
friend ; generally prefixed to a
surname. [Here COD is the
diminutive of ' codlin,' an old
endearment.] Cf., CODD.
Verb (common). — I. To play
the fool; to MONKEY (q.v.).
2. (tailors'). — To go on the
drink; generally, to act loosely.
3. (common). — To chaff;
hoax ; ' take a rise out of.'
1865. Evening Citizen, 28 Nov. COD-
DING a Town Council. — The Fife Circular,
Kirkcaldy, says : — According to usual
Sactice, several members of the new Town
juncil attended divine service at the
Parish Church on Sunday forenoon last.
The Rev. M. J. Bryden officiated, and
preached an eloquent and appropriate
sermon to the Council from these words in
the loth chapter of St. Matthew : — ' Ye
are of more value than many sparrows.'
1884. W. C. RUSSELL, Jack's Court-
ship, ch. xxxi. ' What do you think of
that, cook ? ' ' Think ? ' answered the cook,
who had a rather sour eye ; ' why, that
that rough sailor man was a-CODDiN1 of
you, sir.'
CODD or COD, subs. (Charterhouse).
— A pensioner of the Charter-
house.— See quot., and Cf., COD,
sense 4.
1855. THACKERAY, Newcomes, II., p.
333. Yonder sit some three score of gentle-
men, pensioners of the hospital, listening
to the prayers and psalms. You hear them
coughing feebly in the twilight — the old
reverend blackgowns. Is Coop Ajax
alive, you wonder ? — the Cistercian lads
called these old gentlemen CODDS, I know
not wherefore — I know not wherefore — but
is old CODD Ajax alive, I wonder ? or
CODD Soldier? or kind old CODD Gentle-
man ? or has the grave closed over them ?
CODDAM or Co DOOM, subs, (com-
mon).— A public-house game
played three, four, or more a side.
The only 'property' required is
a coin, a button, or anything
which can be hidden in the
clenched hand. The principle
of the game, which is simplicity
itself, is that of ' Guess whose
hand it's in.' If the guesser
'brings it home,' his side takes
the 'piece,' and the centre man
'works' it. If the guess be
wrong, a chalk is taken to the
holders, who go on again.
1884. J. GREENWOOD, Swen Years
Penal Servitude. The convicts take ad-
vantage of that to the extent sometimes
of playing a gambling game called CODDOM '
Codding.
148
Codicils.
1885. Good Words, August, p. 530.
Some prefer GODDAM, and risk their pint of
beer on the discovery of the coin.
1890. Pall Mall Gaz., March i, p. 5,
col. 2. The boys were playing a game
called CODDOM, a guessing game.
CODDING, verbalsubs. (common). —
Nonsense; humbug; chaff. [From
COD (q.v., verb) sense 3).]
CODGER, subs, (common). — A
familiar term of address, espe-
cially in OLD CODGER ; a curious
old fellow ; an odd fish ; a ' rum '
character ; a precise, and some-
times a mean or miserly man.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Most
of the general slang terms for a
man or fellow correspond in
usage to 'old codger,' e.g., old
chap ; ben cull ; old man ; my
pippin ; old cock, etc.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Un be-
quillard (popular : French thieves
give the same name to the execu-
tioner) ; vieux canasson (popular :
* old man,' ' old cock') ; tin birbe;
• ma vieille branche.
ITALIAN SYNONYM.
(literally a pole-cat).
Fuino
1760. COLMAN, Polly Honeycombe,
in wks. (1777) IV., 39. A clear coast, I
find. The OLD CODGER'S gone, and has
locked me up with his daughter.
1760. SMOLLETT, Sir L. Greaves,
vol. I., ch. iii. She twisted her hand in
Grove's neckcloth without ceremony, cry-
ing—' Sha't then, I tell thee, OLD COGER.'
1796. MAD. D'ARBLAY, Camilla, bk.
IX., ch. iv. He gave himself the airs of
an old justice of the peace, and said if he
did not find the affair given up, nothing
should induce him ever to help me again.
What a mere CODGER that lad has turned
out !
1837. BARHAM, /. L. (Lay of St.
Nicholas). How a thirsty OLD CODGER,
the neighbours call'd Roger, With them
drank cold water in lieu of old wine.
1859. DICKENS, Tale of Two Cities,
bk. II., ch. xxiv. Why, I am a boy, sir,
to half-a-dozen OLD CODGERS here.}
1876. HINDLEY, Life and Adventures
of a Cheap Jack, p. 61. His father, a rum
OLD CODGER, had been a captain in the
army.
1883. F. R. STOCKTON, Rudder
Grange, ch. xi. I knew that any sensible
man would rather have me in charge of
his tent than a young CODGER like that.
1887. BAUMANN, Londinismen, Slang
u. Cant, pref., vi. So from hartful young
dodgers, From vaxy OLD CODGERS, From
the blowens we got Soon to know vot is
vot.
CODICILS, subs. (American journa-
lists').— A kind of literary sparring
match; also called ACCUMUL\-
TIVES (q.v.). Some editor will
make a remark or a joke —
with a capital J ; another will
cite it with comments ; and, in
his turn, he will be handled by
a third. There are cases in
which the original paragraph has
gone the round of twenty or thirty
prints. [A codicil is properly
a writing by way of supplement
to a will.]
1889. Polytechnic Mag., 24 Oct., p.
253. ' How many apples did Adam and
Eve eat ? ' Some say Eve 8 and Adam 2
—a total of 10. Now, we figure the thing
out far different. Eve 8, and Adam 8 also
— total 16. — Boston Journal. We think
the above figures are entirely wrong. If
Eye 8, and Adam 8-2, certainly the total
will be 90. Scientific men, however, on
the strength of the theory that the anti-
diluvians were a race of giants, and con-
sequently great eaters, reason something
like this : — Eve, 8-ist, and Adam 8-2 —
total, 163.— Gloucester Advertiser. Wrong
again ; what could be clearer than if Eve
8-i-ist, and Adam 8-1-2, would not the
whole be 1,623 ?— Boston Journal. Now
we think these figures are not according to
Cocker. The following is probably the
true solution : — Eve 8-1-4 Adam, Adam
8-1-2-4 Eve— total, 8,698.— Veritas. Stop
friend ; still another calculation is as fol-
fows : — If Eve 8-1-4 Adam, Adam 8-1-2-4-2
oblige Eve- -total, 82,056. We think, how-
ever, this is not a sufficient quantity ; for,
if we admit that Eve 8-1-4 Adam, Adam, if
he 8-0-8-1-2-4-2 keep Eve company — total,
Codland.
149
Coffee-Housing.
1,082,056.— New York Mail. You do the
fair thing by Adam, brother, but you
slight Eve. This poor smit 10-1-8-1-4-2
R lease the serpent, and Adam, of course,
: he as good husbands do of-io-8-o-8-i-a-
4-2 keep Eve company — total, 109,099,384.
— Syracuse Journal. The American
newspaper calculators, with the savagery
of all other historians, meanly stigmatise
the woman. Adam, a mere dupe, lacked
the nobility to try a dangerous experi-
ment first. Eye eat an apple for dinner :
Adam, forgetting the injuries to many an
unborn 1,000,000-8-1-4 millions more —
the coward ! True total, 1,000,000,814,-
000,000. Whoopee ! Now is the time to
subscribe. — Polytechnic Magazine.
CODLAND, subs. (American). — New-
foundland. C/., COD-PRESERVES.
CODLINGS. — See CODS.
COD-PRESERVES, subs, (nautical).
—The Atlantic Ocean. [An
obvious allusion. Cf., CODLAND
= Newfoundland ; also BRINEY.]
CODS, suds, (venery). — I. The
testicles. [From A.S. cod or
codd = a small bag.] Also COD-
LINGS.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Baw-
bels, baubels, or bobbles ; bol-
locks ; balls ; beef (the penis
and testes} ; bird's-eggs ; bobbies ;
bullets ; bum -balls ; cannon-
balls ; clock-weights ; culls (old) ;
dowsetts (old) ; gingambobs ;
jelly - bags (more properly in
sing =. the scrotum} ; knackers ;
love-apples; marbles ; nick-nacks;
pebbles; seals (Cf., WATCH-AND-
SEALS = themale/«dfc#d!z); spunk-
holders ; stones ; thingambobs.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Les an-
tilles (thieves' : / //. ) ; les virolets
(obsolete : in allusion to a man's
virility) ; les sonnettes (common :
literally bells) ; les freres siamois
(popular : an allusion to the
Siamese twins) ; les prunes (com-
mon) ; les grains (legtr de deux
grains = 2d\ eunuch).
GERMAN SYNONYM. Dick-
mann (also * an egg, ' and ' the
penis.'' Dick = enciente ; dick
niachen, to deflower and quicken.
Dick means literally ' thick ').
SPANISH SYNONYM. Co/ones.
2. (old). — See quot.
1871. Bookseller, 4 Nov. The CODS
and Hooks were the Whigs and Tories of
Dutch William's land.
COD's-HEAD, subs. (old). — A stupid
fellow ; a fool. — See BUFFLE and
CABBAGE-HEAD.
167*. The Woman turned Bully.
Dash. Sweet sir, I think it is neer octa
hora. Your servant, gentlemen. Good.
Farewell, CODS-HEAD.
1694. DUNTON, Ladies' Dictionary.
You confounded toad, you, where were
your eyes, in your heels? that you should
be such a bungling CODS-HEAD to see no
better.
COFE. — See COVE.
COFFEE, subs. (American thieves').
— Beans.
1859. G. W. MATSELL, Vocabulum,
or Rogue's Lexicon, p. 19, s.v.
GREASED COFFEE, subs. phr.
(American). — Pork and beans.
COFFEE-HOUSE or COFFEE-SHOP,
subs, (common). — I. A water-
closet. For synonyms, see MRS.
JONES, and Cf. , BURY A QUAKER.
2. (venery). — The female
pudendum. For synonyms, see
MONOSYLLABLE.
COFFEE-HOUSING, subs. — See quot.
1877 HAWLEY SMART Play or Pay
ch. iv. ' Not going to hunt? Why Miss
Bazing told me you had a regular string
of horses coming down ! ' ' Ah, Bessie's
wrong. I always was a changeable
beggar, you know. The string consists
of a hack, just good enough to do a little
bit of COFFEE-HOUSING occasionally.
Coffee Mill.
150
Cold Coffee.
COFFEE-MILL, subs. (old). — The
mouth : a ' grinder ' itself, and
furnished with 'grinders' — Ameri-
can ' cogs,' — as well. For syno-
nyms, see POTATO-TRAP.
1821. W. T. MONCRIEFF, Tom and
Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 2. Gas. Come, come,
silence your COFFKE-MILL.
COFFEE-MILLING, subs. phr. (com-
mon).— I. Grinding ; working
hard. Cf., To COCK SNOOKS (see
SNOOKS) or « take a sight ' by
putting the thumb of one hand to
the nose and grinding the little
finger with the other, as if you
worked an imaginary coffee mill.
1837. DICKENS, Pickwick, p. 249.
1854. AVTOUN AND MARTIN, The
Bon Gaultier Ballads. ' The Lay of the
Lovelorn.' When I went the pace so wildly,
caring little what might come, COFFEE-
MILLING care and sorrow, with a nose-
adapted thumb.
COFFINS, subs. (Stock Exchange).
— The Funeral Furnishing Com-
pany's Shares.
ANOTHER NAIL IN ONE'S
COFFIN.— See NAIL.
COG, subs. (American thieves'). —
A tooth.— Mat sell [1859]. C/.,
COFFEE-MILL.
COKE. Go AND EAT COKE, verb,
phr. (vulgar). — A phrase in-
dicative of contempt. A
corollary is ' and evacuate, or
s 1 cinders.'
COKER, subs, (old).— A lie.— Grose
[1785]. For synonyms, see
WHOPPER.
COLCHESTER CLOCKS, subs.
(streets'). — A breed of large
oysters.
1865. Daily Telegraph, 13 Sep. For
the big, uncompromising COLCHESTER
CLOCK, which we see on stalls and
shudder at, with unlimited vinegar and
pepper, the East-ender willingly gives his
penny.
COLD, To HAVE A BAD COLD,
verbal phr. (common). — Said of
one who keeps his door closed
against all comers for fear of
duns ; also of one who has ' shot
the moon. ' Also of one that has
taken clap.
1863. Chambers' Journal, vol. XX.,
p. 5. ' It's no good your ringing,
remarked the book-boy, when I had
discovered that fact for myself;' 'Mr.
Cranium ain't at home, he ain't. He's GOT
A WERRY BAD COLD.' After a few minutes,
however, and many genial impertinences, I
discovered that HAVING A BAD COLD
means, in Camden Town, being in debt,
while A VERY BAD COLD implies that the
sufferer has taken clandestine departure
from his lodgings.
TO LEAVE OUT IN THE COLD,
verbal phr. — To neglect ; shut
out, or abandon.
1861. New York Tribune, July, The
' Assents ' continue to come in freely at
the Erie Railroad office ; and the appear-
ances are that at the closing of the books
. . . there will be few shares or bonds
LEFT OUT IN THE COLD.
COLD BLOOD, subs, (licensed victu-
allers').— A house licensed for the
sale of beer ' not to be drunk on
the premises.'
COLD COFFEE, stibs. phr. (Oxford
University). — I. A sell ; a hoax ;
a trumpery affair.
2. (common). — Misfortune ;
ill-luck. A variant is COLD
GRUEL ; also TO HAVE ONE'S
COMB CUT ; in French, to expe-
rience a run of ill-luck is expres-
sed by etre abonne au guignon ;
literally ' to become a subscriber
to ill-luck ' ; in Spanish, dar al
traste con los negocios, signifies,
colloquially, ' to fail 'or 'to be
unfortunate in business.'
Cold Comfort.
151 Cold Meat Train.
3. (familiar). — An unpleasant
return or snub for a proffered
kindness.
COLD COMFORT, subs. phr. (trade).
— An expression used of articles
sent out on approval and returned.
[Merely an extension of the literal
meaning i.e., what is barren of
consolation : a usage dating from
the sixteenth century.]
COLD COOK, subs, (popular). — An
undertaker. [Literally one who
has to deal with cold meat, i.e.,
the lifeless human body.] Cf.,
COLD MEAT and its derivatives.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Carrion
hunter ; body snatcher ; death
hunter ; black worker (see BLACK
WORK).
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Un em-
balletir de refroidis (thieves' : an
undertaker's man ; literally ' a
packer of cold meat ').
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
s.v.
1864. HOTTEN, Slang Diet., s.v.
COLD COOKS HOP, subs. phr.
(popular). — An undertaker's
premises. — See COLD COOK.
COLD CREAM. — See CREAM OF THE
VALLEY.
COLD DECK, subs. (American
hieves'). — A prepared pack of
cards. Cf., CONCAVES AND CON-
VEXES and STOCK BROADS. More
politely a good hand obtained on
first dealing and without drawing
fresh cards.
1880. S. L. CLEMENS ('Mark
Twain'). Screamers. I never have
gambled from that day to this — never
once — without a COLD DECK in my pocket.
I cannot even tell who is going to lose
in games that are being played unless I
deal myself.
COLD GRUEL.— See COLD COFFEE,
sense 2.
COLD MEAT, subs, (common).- -A
corpse. [The human carcass is
compared to butchers' wares.]
For synonyms, see DEAD MEAT.
Among medical students the term
COLD MEAT or PICKLES (q.V.} —
specimens direct from the subject.
1819. THOS. MOORE, Tom C fib's
Mem. to Con., p. 25. In the Twelfth and
Last Round Sandy fetched him a downer,
That left him all's one as COLD MEAT for
the Crowner.
TO MAKE COLD MEAT OF ONE,
verbal phr. (common). — To kill.
For synonyms, see COOK ONE'S
GOOSE.
1836. C. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers,
p. 148 (ed. 1857). ' You mustn't handle
your piece in that 'ere way, when you
come to have the charge in it, sir,' said
the tall gamekeeper, gruffly, 'or I'm
damned if you won't MAKE COLD MEAT
OF some of us ! '
COLD-MEAT Box, subs. phr. (com-
mon).— A coffin. [From COLD-
MEAT, a corpse, + BOX, a recep-
tacle. ] For synonyms, see ETER-
NITY BOX.
1889. Sporting Times, 3 Aug., p. i,
col. 3. 'Well, s'pose I perched first?'
' Well, replied Pitcher, I should just come
in where you were lying in the COLD-MEAT
BOX, and I should whisper in your ear,' etc.
COLD-M EAT CART, subs. phr. (com-
mon).— A hearse. [From COLD-
MEAT, a corpse, + CART.] Fr.,
mannequin a refroidis. Cf.,
COLD-MEAT TRAIN.
1820. REYNOLDS (' Peter Corcoran ').
The Fancy, p. 46. He's gone — how very
muddy some folks die ! — He's for the COLD-
MEAT CART, and so am I.
COLD-MEAT TRAIN, sttbs. phr.
(popular). — Generally, the funeral
trains to Brookwood, Kensal
Green, and other cemeteries.
Cold Pig.
152
Cold Slaw.
Specifically, the last train at night
per S.W.R., by which officers
can reach Aldershot in time for
their morning duties. It starts
about 2 a.m. from Nine Elms,
and is properly a goods train,
but a carriage is attached which
is known as the 'Larky Subaltern.'
[It is an error to suppose that
this particular train received its
nickname for taking corpses to
Woking Cemetery. It carries
nothing more dreadful than a
portion of the beef and mutton
for the morning ration to the
troops in camp ; and, as before
stated, a few belated officers.]
1876. R. M. JEPHSON, Girl He Left
Behind Him, ch. xi. The train by which
Dorrien journeyed to Aldershot was that
one known as the COLD-MEAT.
COLD PIG. To GIVE COLD PIG,
verbal phr. (common). — To
waken a sleeper either by sluic-
ing him with cold water, or . by
suddenly stripping him of his
bed-clothes.
1818. J. R. PLANCHE, Amoroso, King
o/Little^ Britain. For if the Queen should
come this way, As sure as fate and quarter
day, COLD PIG will be your fare.
1837. Comic Almanack, June. I ve
given him strap, — a thick rope's end, —
COLD PIG ! In vain ! — There lies the
stupid clown, As if the Night Mare held
him down.
1846. THACKERAY, J earners Diary fin
Punch, vol. II., p. 72). 'What was it I
red there? What was it that made me
spring outabed as if sumbady had given
me COLD PIG ? — I red Rewin in that share
list — the Pannick was in full hoporation.'
1869. W. BRADWOOD, The O. V. H.,
ch. xxxv. Then he came back rosy and
hungry, and revenged himself by an ad-
ministration of COLD PIG to the still slum-
bering Ralph.
Subs, (thieves'). — i. A person
robbed of his clothing. Cf.t
sense 2.
2. (thieves'). — A corpse. For
synonyms, see DEAD MEAT.
3. (commercial travellers'). —
The ' empty returns ' sent back
by rail to wholesale houses.
COLD SHIVERS, mbs. phr. (com-
mon).— A figure of speech de-
scribing the effect of illness,
intense fear or any violent
emotion. An American equiva-
lent is a * cold shake,' which may
refer alike to a period of cold
weather, and an attack of fever
and ague.
1864. Derby Day, p. 50. 'There's
our friend the Littl'un,' he resumed ; ' he's
all shivery shakey as if he got the stag-
gers or the COLD SHIVERS, and was going
wurra, wurra, wurra, between his teeth, as
if he couldn't help himself.'
COLD SHOULDER. To GIVE, SHOW,
Or TURN THE COLD SHOULDER,
verbal phr. (colloquial). — To
treat a person with studied cold-
ness, neglect, or contempt ; to
' cut,' in a modified form. The
phrase appears to have been first
used by Scott in the Antiquary,
in the glossary to which it is
explained as ' to appear cold and
reserved.' Jamieson localizes it
in the South of Scotland.
1816. SCOTT, Antiquary, ch. xxxiii.
The countess's dislike didna gang farther
at first than just SHOWING o' THE CAULD
SHOUTHER.
1840. DICKENS, Old Curiosity Shop,
ch. Ixvi. He GIVES me THE COLD
SHOULDER on this very matter, as if he
had had nothing to do with it, instead of
being the first to propose it.
1880. G. R. SIMS, Three Brass Balls,
pledge iii. They were not received every-
where with open arms. He was, of course,
but the wife was occasionally COLD SHOUL-
DERED.
c. 1882. Broadside Ballad, ' Where's
the Cat?' She GAVE HIM THE COLD
SHOULDER, and quickly told him to de-
part.
COLD SLAW, — See CABBAGE, sense
i.
Cold Tea.
Collar.
COLD TEA, subs, (common). —
Brandy — a seventeenth and
eighteenth century colloquialism.
For synonyms, see DRINKS.
1690. Diet. Cant. Crew. COLD TEA :
brandy.
1693. Remonstrance of the Batchelors,
in Harl. Misc. (ed. Park), IV., 505. Since
their sex has been so familiar with brandy
(blasphemed by the name of COLD TEA).
1857. Notes and Queries, 2 S., iii.,
p. 59, s.v.
1888. C. J. DUNPHIE, The Chame-
leon, p. 235. It is worthy of remark that
COLD TEA was a slang name for Brandy in
the i8th century.
COLD WATER ARMY, subs. phr.
(colloquial). — The general body
of total abstainers.
COLD WITHOUT, subs. phr. (com-
mon).— Spirits and cold water
without sugar. Cf. , CIDER AND ;
also HOT WITH.
1837. R. H. BARHAM, Ingoldsby
Legends, p. 156 (ed. 1862). On the fire,
too, she pops some nice mutton-chops, And
she mixes a stiff glass of COLD WITHOUT.
1853. BULWER LYTTON, My Novel. I
laugh at fame. Fame, sir ! not worth a
glass of COLD WITHOUT.
COLE or COAL, subs, (popular). —
Money. For synonyms, see ACT-
UAL and GILT.
1671. R. HEAD, English Rogue, pt. I.,
ch. v., p. 52 (1874). Tip the COLE to Adam
Tyler, give what money you pocket-pickt
to the next party, presently.
167<5. A Warning for Housekeepers
(canting song). But when that we come
not agen, As we walk along the street,
We bite the Culley of his COLE.
1688. SHADWELL, Sq. of Alsatia, I.,
in wks. (1720) IV., 16. Cheat. My lusty
rustick, learn, and be instructed. COLE is,
in the language of the witty, money ; the
ready, the rhino.
16(?). Song of Seventeenth Century,
(quoted in Halliwell and Wright's ed. of
Mares' Glossary). The twelfth a trapan,
if a cull he doth meet, He naps all his
COLE, and turns him i' th' street.
1741. WALPOLE, ballad in Letters to
Mann, i., 22. This our captain no sooner
had finger'd the COLE, But he hies him
aboard with his good Madam Vole.
1837. R. H. BARHAM, The Ingoldsby
Legends (ed. 1862), p. 398. Moreover —
the whole Of the said cash or COLE; Shall
be spent for the good of the said Old
Woman's soul !
1844. Puck, p. 146. Thank you for
the offer of your bill ; but I can wait until
you can finger the COLE, when I shan't
stand on ceremony about taking a cool
hundred or two. . .
TO POST Or TIP THE COLE, phr.
(common). — Tohandover money ;
to 'shell' or 'fork out.'— See
1671 quot., subs, sense.
1839. HARRISON AINSWORTH, Jack
Sheppard [1889], p. 13. 'Will he POST
THE COLE? Will he come down with the
dues? Ask him that,' cried Blueskin.
Ibid. If he don't TIP THE COLE without
more ado, give him a taste of the pump,
that's all.
1883. G. A. S[ALA], in ///. L. News,
Nov. 10, p. 451, col. 3. The lamented J.
B. Buckstone, at a Theatrical Fund
Dinner, once entreated the guests present
to POST THE COLE, i.e., to be prompt with
their subscriptions and donations.
COLFABIAS or COLFABIS. — See
quot.
1864. HOTTEN, Slang Diet. COL-
FABIAS, a Latinized Irish phrase signifying
the closet of decency, applied as a slang
term to a place of resort in Trinity College,
Dublin.
COLIANDEROr COLI AN D E R SE EDS,
subs. (old). — Money. — Grose
[1785]. For synonyms, see
ACTUAL and GILT.
COLLAR, verb (common). — To seize :
appropriate; steal; e.g., 'COLLAR
his dragons/ i.e., steal his sove-
reigns. [Properly ' to seize by
the collar' ; hence, by transition,
'to lay hold of anything forcibly.']
For synonyms, see NAB and^PRic.
1841. ^ LEMAN REDE, Song$ ' Kit
Clayton,' in Sixteen-String Jack, Act i.,
Sc. 3. Ve COLLAR'D the blunt, started off
Collar.
154
Collared.
for town, With the dashy, splashy, leary,
little stringer, Horses knock' d up, men
knocked down— Phililoo !
1852. DICKENS, Bleak House, ch.
Ivii., p. 476. Look well after your own
money, for they are dead certain to
COLLAR it, if they can.
1866. London Miscellany, March 3,
p. 58. I slept in Holborn Workhouse.
While I was asleep the other coves tore
every rag up and COLLAR'D my toke.
1866. HINDLEY, Life and Adventures
of a Cheap Jack, p. 242. Old Sir John
Collywobbles had six black horses, six
white horses, and six pied horses. So I
recommended my father-which-is-in-law to
COLLAR the lot.
1884. W. BESANT, Julia, ch. iv.
Your grandmother tells me you've plucked
up spirit at last and won't let her COLLAT?
more than half the wages.
To COLLAR THE BUN, CAKE,
BANBURY, or CONFECTIONER'S
SHOP, verb. phr. (common). —
To be easily first ; to surpass.
—See CAKE.
OUT OF COLLAR, adv. phr.
(colloquial). — Out of work ; out
of cash ; not in training. Con-
versely, IN COLLAR = in work ;
in comfortable circumstances ;
and, as regards training, ' fit ' or
* in form.' [Simile taken from
the stable, in allusion to a horse,
i.e., with his collar on or off.]
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Ballote*
(tailors '=' to be out of work ' ) ;
caler (popular and nautical = ' to
sink ' ) ; envoyer a la comedie
(popular : to dismiss a workman
for want of work to give him.
Cf. , remporter tine veste) ; etre a la
comedie ('to be out of work ') ;
un panas (popular : ' one out of
work ' ) ; un inspedeur des paves
(literally 'an inspector of the
pavement ') ; avoir de la laine (to
be in work).
1857. DUCANGE ANGLICUS, The
Vulgetf Tongue, A decent allowance
made to seedy swells, head robbers, and
flunkeys OUT OF COLLAR.
1867. Scottish Journal, p. 39, col. i.
There is nothing that so materially and
frequently effects the well-being and
social position of a working man as the
circumstances arising from being, in his
own phrase, 'OUT OF COLLAR ' — that is,
his being unable to obtain work when he
is able to do it and anxious to get it to
do. Ibid. A workman on tramp will,
if he is tolerably well known in the trade,
and if he have, when IN COLLAR, shown a
disposition to assist those who were out,
often be kept among his former shopmates.
1880. MILLIKIN, Punch's A Irnanack.
Now October! Back again to COLLAR,
Funds run low, reduced to last 'alf dollar.
c. 1880. Broadside Ballad, 'Why
Did She Leave her Jeremiah ? ' When I
was IN COLLAR I loved a fair maid, With
eyes of a sweet dark blue.
AGAINST COLLAR, adv. phr.
(common). — Uphill ; working
against difficulties, or against the
grain.
TO BE PUT TO THE PIN OF
THE COLLAR, verbal phr. (com-
mon). — To be driven to ex-
tremities ; to come to the end of
one's resources.
TO WEAR THE COLLAR, verbal
phr. (colloquial). — To be subject
to control not altogether to one's
liking. The antithesis of ' to
have the whip hand ' and ' to wear
the breeches ' ; etc.
COLLAR AND ELBOW, subs. phr.
(wrestling). — A term for a pecu-
liar style of wrestling — the Corn-
wall and Devon style.
COLLAR-DAY, .$•«&•. (old). — Hanging
day. [In allusion to the hang-
man's noose.] Also WRY- NECK-
DAY (q.v.)', Fr., jour de la St.
Jean Baptiste.
COLLARED. To BE COLLARED,
verbal phr. (gaming). — To be
unable to play one's usual game
owing to temper, • funk,' or other
causes.
Collared Up.
Collogue.
COLLARED UP,///. adj. (colloquial).
— Kept close to business. Cf.,
OUT OF COLLAR.
COLLAR or GET THE BIG BIRD.—
See BIG BIRD, and for synonyms,
GOOSED.
COLLAR WORK, subs. phr. (collo-
quial). Laborious work. — See
AGAINST COLLAR.
1883. Daily Telegraph, July 3, p. 2,
col. i. The bald patches on their
shoulders testified to their intimate ac-
quaintance with COLLAR WORK and tug-
ging on stoney roads with heavy loads
behind them.
1888. ANT. TROLLOPE, What I Re-
member. And when Lucca was reached
there were still fourteen miles, nearly all
COLLAR WORK, between that and the
baths.
COLLECTOR, subs. (old). — A high-
wayman or footpad.
COLLEGE, subs, (thieves'). — A
prison ; the inmates are called
COLLEGIANS Or COLLEGIATES
(q.v.) ; Newgate was formerly
called 'the CITY COLLEGE.'
The Spanish Germania has cole^io
and college is found in the argot
of French thieves.
1703. Title, 'The History of Whit-
tington's COLLEDGE otherwise (vulgarly)
called Newgate. London, Printed in the
Year 1703.'
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue.
COLLEGE, Newgate, or any other prison.
1836. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers
(about 1827), p. 370 (ed. 1857). ' Mornin',
gen'l'mem', said Sam, entering at the
moment with the shoes and gaiters ;
' avay vith melanchplly, as the little boy
said ven his schoolmissus died. Velcome
to the COLLEGE, genTmem.'
1859. MATSELL, Vacabulum, or
Rogue's Lexicon, p. 20. COLLEGE : a
State prison.
1889. Answers, 8 June, p. 25. I have
since met several men whom I knew in
prison at one time or other, and most of
them have recognised me ; but only one
other has stopped me to remind me that
we were at ' COLLEGE ' together.
COLLEGE CHUM. --See COLLEGIATE.
COLLEGER, subs. (University and
public schools'). — A square cap,
otherwise known as a MORTAR-
BOARD. For general synonyms,
see GOLGOTHA.
COLLEGIAN. — See COLLEGIATE.
COLLEGIATE, COLLEGIAN or COL-
LEGE CHUM, subs, (thieves'). — The
inmate of a prison. — [See COL-
XEGE.]
1743. NORTH, LifeofLordGuildford,
I., 123. His beginnings were debauched,
and his study and first practice in the gaol.
For having been one of the fiercest town-
rakes and spent more than he had of his
own, his case forced him upon that expe-
dient for a lodging, and there he ...
busied himself with the cases of his fellow-
COLLEGIATES.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
s.v.
1836. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers
(about 1827), p. 369 (ed. 1857). ' I say-
do you expect anybody this morning?
Three men — devilish gentlemanly fellows
— have been asking after you downstairs,
and knocking at every door on the hall
flight : for which they've been most infer-
nally blown up by the COLLEGIANS that
had the trouble of opening 'em.1
1859. G. W. MATSELL, Vocabulum,
or the Rogues Lexicon, COLLEGE CHUM :
a fellow-prisoner.
1884. DICKENS. [Quoted in Supple«
ment to Annandale's ed. of Ogilvie's
Imperial Diet. ,] It became a not unusual
circumstance for letters to be put under
his door at night enclosing half-a-crown
. . . for the father of the Marshalsea,
'with the compliments of a COLLEGIAN
taking leave.'
LADIES' COLLEGE, subs, (gene-
ral).— A brothel. For synonyms,
see NANNY-SHOP.
COLLOGUE, verb (colloquial).— To
confer confidentially and secretly;
to conspire; to wheedle; or flatter.
The term is also used in a humor-
ous sense. [From Lat. col, toge-
Colly-Molly.
156
Colour.
ther + Lat. loquor^ to speak, in-
fluenced probably by ' colleague '
and * colloquy.']
1596. NASHE, Saffron Walden, in
wks. III., 136. For once before I had
bin so cousend by his COLLOGING, though
personally we neuer met face to face.
1676. EARL OF ROCHESTER, Hist, of
Insipids, st. 9. When to give Money he
can't COLOGUE 'um, He doth with Scorn
prorogue, prorogue 'um.
1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5 ed.).
COLLOGUE (v.): to treat with a person
underhandedly, to cheat, flatter, coax, or
sooth a person in order to get a secret out
of him.
1818. SCOTT, Rob Roy, ch. xxxvii.
It was hardly possible two such d — d
rascals should COLLOGUE together with-
out mischief to honest people.
1857. BARHAM, I. L. (House-wanning),
Miss Alice, in short, was supposed to COL-
LOGUE— I Don't much like the word — with
the subtle old rogue, I'Ve heard call'd by
so many names, — one of them's Bogy.
1858. G. ELIOT, Mr. GilfiFs Love-
Story, ch. iv. ' We shall be poisoned wi'
lime an' plaster, and hev the house full o'
workmen COLLOGEING wi' the maids, an'
makin' no end o' mischief.'
1861. G. ELIOT, Silas Marner, ch. ix.
'And how long have you been so thick
with Dunsey that you must COLLOGUE
with him to embezzle my money?"
COLLY- MOLLY, adj. and adv. (old).
— Melancholy. [A jocular cor-
ruption of the word. Cf., So-
- LEMONCHOLY and (in Dr. Mari-
golds Prescriptions} LEMON-
JOLLY.]
17(?). Decl. of Pop. Imp. sign. Q. 3.
(quoted in Nares). The devil was a little
COLLI-MOLLIE and would not come off.
COLLY WOBBLES, subs, (common).
— The stomach-ache; also the
rumblings of flatulency ; figura-
tively, the stomach.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Wiffle-
waffles ; gripes ; mulligrubs.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Mai an
brechet\ also gargouillade.
1853. CUTHBERT BEDE, Verdant
Green, pt. I., ch. viii. ' Peakyish you feel,
don't you, now, with a touch of the mulli-
grubs in your COLLYWOBBLES?'
c. 1880. Broadside Ballad, ' Com-
plaints ' or 'The Ills of Life.' Then I've
had the colic, spasms, dizziness, and swim-
mings, Mullygrubs and COLLYWOBBLES,
with delicious trimmings.
COLOUR, sit fa. (sporting). — i. The
handkerchief worn as a badge by
prize-fighters and other profes-
sional athletes. Each man chooses
his own, and it was once a prac-
tice to sell them to backers to be
worn at the ring-side. The pre-
sent rules of the Ring provide as
follows : — ' That every man shall
be provided with a handkerchief
of a colour suitable to his own
fancy, and that the seconds pro-
ceed to entwine these handker-
chiefs at the upper end of one of
the centre stakes of the ring ; that
these handkerchiefs shall be
called the COLOURS, and that the
winner of the battle at its conclu-
sion shall be entitled to their
possession as the trophy of vic-
tory. ' For a description of various
'fancies,' see BILLY. In racing
circles the COLOURS are the
owner's and are shown in the
jockeys' caps and jackets.
1818. P. EGAN, Boxiana, vol. I., p.
170. The Chicken now sported the blue-
spotted silk handkerchief, as the champion's
COLOUR.
1858. A. M AYHEW, Paved with Gold,
bk. II., ch. xii., p. 189. Each of the men
had, previous to the fight, done a little
profitable business by selling pocket-
handkerchiefs, which they called their
COLOURS.
2. (popular). — Used of money ;
e.g.) ' I have not seen the COLOUR
of his money ' = I have not re-
ceived payment. — See quots.
1736. FIELDING, Don Quixote, I., Hi.
If I have seen the COLOUR of gold this
fortnight, may I never see Teresa Pancha
again.
Colour One's Meerschaum. IS7
Colt-Man.
1836. MARRYAT, Midshipman Easy,
ch. xix. The padrone informed them that
he should like to see the COLOUR of their
money before they went on board.
COLOURED ON THE CARD, //m
(racing). — Having the colours
in which a jockey is to ride in-
serted on the card of the race.
OFF COLOUR, adv. phr. (com-
mon).— Exhausted ; run down ;
'seedy.'
c. 1876. Broadside Ballad, ' That's
Where The Money Goes.1 London's Police
will be made up of men, Cold Rabbit Pie
will be OFF COLOUR then.
COLOUR ONE'S MEERSCHAUM, ver-
bal phr. (common). — To get
brandy-faced ; to drink one's nose
into a state of pimples and scarlet.
COLQUARRON, subs, (old) —The
neck. For synonyms, see SCRAG.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue.
COLQUARRON : a man's neck (cant), his
COLQUARRON is just about to be twisted,
he is just going to be hanged.
1830. SIR E. B. LYTTON, Paul
Clifford, p. 5 (ed. 1854). ' 'Tis a rum
business, and puzzles I ! but mum's the
word, for my own little COLQUARREN.'
COLT, subs, (popular). — I. A person
new to office, or, to the exercise
of any art ; e.g. , a professional
cricketer during his first season ; a
first • time juryman ; a thief
in his novitiate. [Properly a
COLT is a young male horse.]
178^. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1885. Daily News, 28 August, p. 3,
col. 7. A match arranged for the benefit
of the young players of the county was
commenced yesterday at Manchester,
when the Lancashire Eleven were opposed
to Twenty-six COLTS.
2. (nautical). — See quots.
1830. MARRYAT, King's Own, ch.
viii. He always carried in his pocket a
COLT (i.e., a foot and a half of rope, knotted
at one end, and whipped at the other), for
the benefit of the youngsters, to whom he
was a most inordinate tyrant.
1836. MARRYAT, Midshipman Easy,
ch. xii. 'He knocked me down — and
when I got up again he told me that I
could stand a little more — and then he took
out his COLT, and said he was determined
to ride the high horse.'
3. (thieves'). — Athief's weapon;
otherwise known as a BILLY (q.v .).
For synonyms, see NEDDY.
4. (thieves'). — A man who
hires horses to burglars. In
America he is called a COLT-MAN.
[Quoted by Grose, 1785.]
5. (legal). — See quot.
1887. SIR F. POLLOCK, Pers. Re-
membr., vol. I., p. 212. In April I accom-
panied the newly-made Chief Baron [of
Exchequer] as his COLT (the so-called
attendant on a serjeant at his making) to
the Lord Chancellor's private room at
Westminster.
Verb (nautical).— i. To thrash;
[From COLT, sense 2.] Cf.^
BASTE, and for synonyms, see
TAN.
1836. MARRYAT, Midshipman Easy,
ch. xii. ' Then he COLTED me for half-an-
hour, and that's all.'
2. (common). — To cause a
person to stand treat by way of
being ' made free ' of a new place ;
to make one ' pay one's footing.'
Cf.} subs., sense I.
COLTAGE, subs, (old).— The foot-
ing paid by COLTS (q.v., subs.,
sense i) on their first appearance.
COLTING, verbal subs, (common). —
A thrashing. For general syn-
onyms, see TANNING and BASTE.
C o L T- M A N . — See COLT, subs. ,
sense 4.
Coifs Tooth.
Comb One's Hair.
COLT'S TOOTH. To HAVE A COLT
or COLT'S TOOTH, verbal phr. (old).
— To be fond of youthful plea-
sures ; in the case of elderly
persons, to have juvenile
tastes ; to be of wanton dis-
position and capacity. [In allusion
to a supposed desire to shed the
teeth and see life over again.]
1500. MARLOWE, 2 Tamburlaine, iv.,
4. Nay, we will break the hedges of their
mouths, And pull their kicking COLTS out
of their pastures.
160(5. SIR GYLES GOOSECAPPE, v., 2,
in Bullen's Old Plays, iii., 87. I shood
doe my country, and Court-ship good
service to beate thy COALTS TEETH out of
thy head, for suffering such a reverend
word to passe their guarde.
1637. FLETCHER, Elder Brotner, II.,
iii. He should love her now, As he hath
a COLT'S TOOTH yet.
1753. WALPOLE, Lett, to Mann,
27 April (1833), vol. III., p. 89. I hear
that my Lord Granville has cut another
COLT'S TOOTH — in short, they say he is
going to be married again . . . there are
not above two or three-and-forty years
difference in their ages.
1770. COLMAN, The Portrait, in
wks. (1777) IV., 215. Tho' not in the
bloom of my youth, Yet still I have left a
COLT'S TOOTH.
1812. C. K. SHARPE, in Correspon-
dence (1888), II., 5. Tyndall and I always
fought about noblemen, tho' I suspected
his COLT'S TOOTH with regard to Lord
Apsley, who is a mighty good sort of man,
but only captivating.
COLUMBINE, subs, (theatrical).— A
prostitute. For synonyms, see
BARRACK-HACK and TART.
COLUMBUS, subs, (theatrical). —
Failure. A REGULAR COLUM-
BUS = an utter failure; 'dead
frost.' Fr., II pleut!= the play
is a failure.
CoMB-BRUSH,.wfo. (old). — A lady's
maid. [A word compounded from
the names of two familiar toilet
requisites. C/., WHIP = a coach-
man.]— See ABIGAIL.
1750. FIELDING, Tom Jones. The
maid who at present attended on Sophia
was recommended by Lady Bellaston,
with whom she had lived for some time in
the capacity of a COMB-BRUSH.
COM B CUT. To HAVE ONE'S COMB
CUT, verbal phr. (popular). — To
be mortified ; disgraced ; down on
one's luck. [A simile drawn from
cock-fighting.]
COMB DOWN. — See COMB ONE'S
HAIR.
COMBIE, subs, (university). - A
familiar abbreviation for 'Com-
bination room,' the parlour in
which college dons drink wine
after Hall. Also a garment ;
see COMBINATION.
COMBINATION, subs, (general). — A
woman's undergarment, shift and
drawers in one. Also COMBIE, and
(American) CHEMILOON (g.v.),
itself a combination of ' chemise '
and * pantaloon.'
COMB ONE'S \\A\K, verbal phr. ttrs.
and inlr. (common). — To take to
task ; to scold ; to keep in order.
Sometimes to thrash, and gene-
rally ill-treat. Variants are TO
COMB DOWN J TO COMB ONE'S
NODDLE WITH A THREE-LEGGED
or JOINT STOOL. [A.S. cemban ;
O.E. kemben; German, kammen
— to comb. Halliwell gives kemb
(a Border form) = to comb ; also
COMB = to cut a person's comb, to
disable him. The word seems to
have always involved the idea of
personal castigation, either physi-
cal or figurative. In this con-
nection, cf.j quot., 1593.] Fr.,
donner une peignee and laver la
tete ; but for synonyms in the
sense of ' to scold,' see WIG ; and
in the sense of 'to thrash,' see
TAN.
Comb the Cat.
Come Down.
1593. SHAKSPEARE, Taming of the
Shrew, i., i. Kath . . . doubt not her
cares should be to COMB YOUR NODDLE
WITH A THREE-LEGG'D STOOL, And paint
your face, and use you like a fool.
1769. JOHN WALLIS, Antiquities of
Northumberland. [Speaking of Wark
Castle.] On the west side are the out-
works, now called the Kemb, i.e., the
camp of the militia designed to KEMB or
fight an enemy ; KEMB being a word often
used by the borderers when they threaten
in a passionate tone to beat an assailant,
— they will KEMB him, i.e., drub him
heartily.
1836. W. KIDD, London and all its
Dangers. ' Magistrates,' p. 12. The
Magistrate of Hatton Garden has lately
HAD HIS 'HAIR COMBED' by the Home
Secretary for his brutal conduct.
1852. DICKENS, Bleak House, ch.
xxvii., p. 236. ' If you had only settled
down, and married Joe Pouch's widow
when he died in North America, she'd
have COMBED YOUR HAIR for you.'
1866. G. ELIOT, Felix Holt, ch.
xliii. But you see, these riots — it's been
a nasty business. I shall HAVE MY HAIR
COMBED at the sessions for a year to
come.1
1869 Ino (played at Strand
Theatre). ' Since Ino's COMBED MY WOOL
it's ceased to grow.'
COMB THE CAT, verbal phr. (nauti-
cal). —See quot.
1867. SMYTH, Sailors' Word Book.
COMBING THE CAT : the boatswain, or
other operator, running his fingers through
the cat-o'-nine tails to separate them.
COME, verb (venery). — i. To
experience the sexual spasm ; to
achieve emission ; TO SPEND
(q.v.}. The expression (which
applies to the agents only : never
to the proof, or effect, of their
activity) is common to both
the sexes. Cf., CREAM (q.v.} ;
SPENDINGS ; q.v. ; and LETCH-
WATER (q.v.).
2. (general). — To practice ;
to understand ; to act the part
of. C/., COME OVER and COME
TRICKS.
1883. GREENWOOD, Tag, Rag, and
Co. We ain't two by ourselves as COMES
that dodge.
3. (old).— To lend.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue.
Has he COME it? i.e., has he lent it ?
TO MAKE DRUNK COME, phr.
(American). — To become intoxi-
cated. For synonyms, see
SCREWED.
COME ABOUT [ONE], verbal phr.
(old). — i. To circumvent. Cf.,
COME OVER and COME ROUND.
1755. JOHNSON, Diet. Eng. Lang.
(n ed., 1816), s.v. 'About' in common
language they say to COME ABOUT a man.
' to circumvent him.'
2. (venery). — To copulate.
(Said only of men by women).
COME A BUSTER. — See BUSTER
(nibs., sense 3).
COME A CROPPER. — See CROPPER.
COME AND SEE YOUR PA, phr.
(common). — An invitation to
drink. For synonyms, see
DRINKS.
COME CAPTAIN ARMSTRONG.— See
CAPTAIN ARMSTRONG.
COME-DOWN, subs, (popular). — A
fall, whether of pride or worldly
prospects ; an abandonment of
something for something else of
less value or moment.
Verb. — [Used either indepen-
dently or in combination : e.g. ,
TO COME DOWN ; TO COME DOWN
HANDSOME, or TO COME DOWN
WITH THE DUST, DUES, DIBS,
READY, OOF, SHINERS, BLUNT,
NEEDFUL, etc.] (common). — i.
To pay, i.e., to 'part'; or
Come Down.
160
Come Off.
to lay down (as in payment) j to
' fork out. ' For synonyms, see
SHELL OUT.
1701. STEELE, The Funeral, Act ii.,
Sc. i. I must do according to my orders
. . . ^except you'd COME DOWN a little
deeper than you talk of: — You don't
consider the charges I've been at already.
1727. GAY, Beggar's Opera, Act iii.,
Sc. i. Did he tip handsomely ?— How
much did he COME DOWN with ?
1842. Punch, vol. III., p. 136.
' Bolt ! ' she falter'd, ' from the gov'nor ?
Oh, my Colin, that won't pay ; He will
ne'er COME DOWN, my love, nor Help us, if
we run away.'
1849. THACKERAY, Pendennis, ch.
Ixix. My uncle augurs everything from
the Begum's generosity, and says that
she will COME DOWN very handsomely.
1889. BARRERE, SI., far., and Cant,
(quoted in). Dp you keep the gentleman
in discourse while I speak to the prisoner,
and see how he can COME DOWN.
2. (trade). — To abate prices.
COME DOWN FROM THE WALLS,
verbal phr. (American). — To
abandon a position. C/C, BACK
SEAT.
COMEDY-MERCHANT, subs, (com-
mon).— An actor. For synonyms,
ss£ CACKLING-COVE.
COME IT, verb (colloquial). — i. To
proceed at a great rate ; to make
a splash and dash (in extrava-
gance); to 'cut a figure.' Cf.,
COME IT STRONG and Go IT.
1840. TH ACKER fCf, Paris Sketch Book,
p. 22. ' I think the chaps down the road
will stare,' said Sam, 'when they hear how
I've been COMING IT.'
2. (thieves'). — To inform.
For synonyms, see PEACH.
1857. SNOWDEN, Mag. Assistant, 3
ed., p. 444. To in form = TO COME IT.
1864. HOTTEN, Slang Diet., p. 126.
The expression COME IT (to inform, tell,
or disclose) is best known to the lower
and most dangerous classes.
1889. Daily Telegraph. He heard
one of the others say in reply, ' COME IT,
meaning to tell— to be quiet.
3. (pugilistic). — To show fear.
4. (American). — To succeed.
Especially in YOU CAN'T COME IT,
i.e., you cannot succeed : an
expression of disbelief in the
ability of another. Probably a sur-
vival of old English usage. C/.,
COME OVER.
COME IT STRONG, verbal phr.
(popular). — To exaggerate ; to
* lay it on thick ' ; to carry to
extremes. For synonyms, see
LONGBOW. Cf., COME IT.
1836. C. DICKENS, Picfavick Papeis,
p. 356 (ed. 1857). 'Veil, sir,' rejoined
Sam, after a short pause, ' I think I see
your drift ; and if I do see your drift, it's
my 'pinion that you're a COMIN' IT A GREAT
DEAL TOO STRONG, as the mail-coachman
said to the snow-storm, ven it overtook him.'
1837. BARHAM, /. L. (Lay of St.
Gengulphus}, ed. 1862, p. 157. He here
shook his head, — Right little he said, But
he thought she was COMING IT RATHER TOO
STRONG.
1846. W. M. THACKERAY, Yellow-
plush. ' Mr. Deuceace at Paris.' Now,
though master was a scoundrill and no
mistake, he was a gentleman and a man of
good breeding ; and miss CAME A LITTLE
TOO STRONG (pardon the vulgarity of the
expression), with her harder and attach-
mint for one of his taste.
1869. BRET HARTE, The Heathen
Chinee. In his sleeves, which were long,
He had twenty-four packs. Which was
COMING IT STRONG.
COME JOHN, or LORD, AUDLEY. —
See JOHN AUDLEY.
COME OFF, verbal phr. (colloquial).
— To happen j to occur ; to re-
sult from. — See also COME,
sense I.
1609. JONSON, Case is Altered, IV.,
iii. His muse sometimes cannot curvet,
nor prognosticate, and COME OFF as it
should ; no matter, I'll hammer out a
paraphrase for thee myself.
Come off the Grass.
Come Over.
1857. DICKENS, The Detective Police,
in Reprinted Pieces, p. 239. In con-
sequence of which appointment the
party CAME OFF, which we are about to
describe.
1870. WILKIE COLLINS, Man and
Wife, in Casselfs Mag., p. 292, col. i.
' The betting's at five, to four, my dear.
And the race COMES OFF in a month from
this.'
1872. Civilian, 10 Aug. Unfortu-
nately, the event, to use the language of
the turf, did not COME OFF, and con-
siderable disappointment was manifested.
1883. Graphic, August n, p. 138, col;
a. Batting is his forte, though he does not
always COME OFF.
COME OFF THE GRASS, or THE
TALL GRASS! phr. (American);
— ' None of your airs ! ' ' Don't
put it on so !' 'Don't tell any
more lies !. ' The French say,
As-tu fini tes manieres or
magnes ? ne fais done pas ta
Sophie ; and ne fais done pas ton
fendart.
COME OUT, verbal phr. (common). —
I. To make an appearance ; to
display oneself; to express one-
self vigorously ; to make an im-
pression (especially in sense 2).
Sometimes in an intensified form
TO COME OUT STRONG. Cf.,
COME IT STRONG.
[The first quot. is doubtful, but it
looks like an anticipation.]
• 1637. SL. RUTHERFORD, Letters, No.
167, vol. I., pi 390 (ed. 1862, 2 vols.).
Christ . . . who hath given you eyes to
discern the devil COMING OUT in his
whites.
1855. THACKERAY, Newcomes, II.,
14. The more he [Clive] worked, the more
he was discontented with his performance,
somehow ; but J. J. was COMING OUT
VERY STRONG ; J. J. was going to be a
stunner.
1865. G. F. BERKELEY, Life, etc.
II., 135. Our inclination to quiz him
[Lord Wm. Lennox] on the subject iri-
c -eased when in later years he CAME OUT
STRONG in magazines and reviews, as a
sporting writer.
1865. Comhill Magazine, IV., 218.
'A county ball.' The native COMES OUT
STRONG in waistcoats — his array in that
respect being gorgeous.
1870. Good Words, April. 'The
Hand Nailer.' In the nailing commu-
nities, as elsewhere, woman manages
somehow to COME OUT EXTENSIVELY on
Sundays.
18(?). PwrQwntTheDreepdaily Burghs,
pi 2. Let me confess it. I had of late
COME OUT RATHER TOO STRONG. When a
man has made money easily, he is some-
what prone to launch into expense.
2. (common). — To turn out ;
to result ; £.?., How did it COME
OUT? Cf., COME OFF.
3. (colloquial). — To make a
first appearance in society.
TO COME OUT OF THE LITTLE
END OF THE HORN, phr. (Ameii-
can). — To fare badly ; in allusion
to the thin end of the CORNU-
COPIA.
, verbal phr. (colloquial).
— To influence; to overreach ;
to cheat. (If the quots. are
compared chronologically it will
be seen that there has been a
gradual deterioration in the
meaning of this colloquialism. )
Cf., COME ROUND; GET OVER;
1609. DEKKER, Guts Horne-Booke,
ch. ii. Care not for those coorse painted
cloath rimes, made by ye University of
Salerne, that COME OUER you, with , . .
sweete candied councell.
1667. SHIRLEY, Love Tricks, Act ii.,
Sc. i. I do not see what fault she can find
with me ; and if I had some good word to
COME OVER her — but I must help it out,
an need be, with swearing.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue.
To COME OVER any one : to cheat or over-
reach him.
1794. Gent. Mag., p. 1085. I lately
CAME OVER him for a good round sum.
c. 1860. Broadside Ballad, I'm a
young man from the country, But you
don't GET OVER me.
II
Come over One.
162
Come to Stay.
c. 1879. Music Hall Song (sung by
Jenny Hill, the 'Vital Spark'). You
may GET OVER water-butts, You may GET
OVER fountains, But I'll take particular
notice that you dcn't GET OVER Sal.
1884. Daily Telegraph, March n,
p. 2, col. i. ' But don't you try and COME
IT OVER me, or you'll find yourself in the
wrong box.'
COME [THE OLD SOLDIER, or any
person or thing] OVER ONE,
verbal phr. (colloquial).: — To im-
itate ; to overbear ; to wheedle ;
to rule by an assumption of
authority. Fr. , essayer de monfer
un bateau a quelqu?un ; or monter
k coup or un battage.
1713. C. SHADWELL, Humours of
the Army, Act iii. Trie Devil a Farthing
he owes me — but however, I'll PUT THE
OLD SOLDIER UPON him.
1825. SCOTT, St'. Ronans Well, chi
xviii. Were it not that I think he has
scarce the impudence to propose such a
thing to succeed, curse me but I should
think he was COMING THE OLD SOLDIER
OVER ME, and keeping up his garnet
1836. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers
(about 1827), p. 369 (ed. 1857). 'Ah, by
jove, he has ! ' replied Smangle. ' Hear
him COME THE FOUR CATS IN THE WHEEL-
BARROW— four distinct cats, sir, I pledge
my. honour Now you know that's
you my . nono
infirnal clever
1839. The Druid. \ Post and
Paddock.' The only way his crime to
cover, To hide his shame from children's
eye, Is not to try and COME THE LOVER
But stable-wards at once to fly.
1855.. W. M. THACKERAY, Thf
Newcpmes, II., 253. ' I had a letter this
morning from my liberal and punctual
employer, Thomas Potts, Esquire, of the
Newcome Independent, who states, in
language scarcely respectful, that Sir
Barnes Newcome Newcome is trying TO
COME THE RELIGIOUS DODGE, as Mr. PottS
calls it.'
1877. W; BLACK, Green Past, and
Pice., ch. i. ' She's rather serious, you
know, and would like to COME THE
MATERNAL OVER vou."
1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude,
ch. iii., p. 167. To hear him speak, one
might imagine him as innocent as a lamb,
and as green as a schoolboy, but just try
TO COME THE HANKY-PANKY and PLAY
THE OLD SOLDIER WITH him.
1877. J. GREENWOOD, Dick Temple.
Permit me, if you and your two friends
think of COMING what is vulgarly called
THE OLD SOLDIER over me, to make you
understand that you had better abandon
the intention.
COME ROUND, verbal phr. (collo-
quial).— To influence; to circum-
vent ; to persuade. Cf., COME
OVER, and COME ABOUT, sense i.
1846. THACKERAY, V. Fair, ch. xi.
Finally, the reports were that the
governess had COME ROUND everybody,
wrote Sir Pitt's letters, did his business,
managed his accounts — had the upper
Hand of the whole house.
COME SOUSE, verbal phr. (pugi-
listic).—To fall heavily. Also
COSOUSE.
1819. T. MOORE, Tom Crib's Mem.
to Cong. As it was, Master Georgy CAME
SOUSE with the whack, And there
sprawled, like a turtle turned queer on its
back.
COME THE GUM GAME, verbal phr.
(Western American). — To over-
reach by concealment^ [From
the preference shown by hunted
opossums and racoons ;for gum
trees as places of refuge.]
1869; Kansas City A dvertise r, 7 May .
You can't COME THAT GUM GAME over
me any more ; I've been to the land-office
and know all about the place.
COME THROUGH A SIDE DOOR,
verbal phr. (common). — To be
born illegitimately.
c. 1880. Broadside Ballad, ' The Blessed
Orphan.' I don't think I was born at all,
No parents own I came here ; I was left at
a house of call. Close by a Pickford's van
here, Some wicked wretches say, but I
My indignation smother, That I CAME
THROUGH A SIDE DOOR In this world
from the other.
COME TO STAY, verbal phr. (Ameri-
can).— To be endowed with per-
manent qualities. Thus the New
York Morning Journal announces
Come to.
163
Commission.
that earth fuel, a new material
for cooking and firing purposes,
has COME TO STAY, i.e., its com-
mercial success is assured.
1888. Pittsburgh Bulletin, In the
realm of advertising, the illustration has
evidently COME TO STAY. It attracts and
retains the eye, and so serves a double
purpose.
COME To, or UP To, TIME, verbal
phr. (pugilistic). — To answer the
call of ' Time ! ' after the thirty
seconds' rest between round and
round ; hence, by analogy, to be
on the alert ; to be ready.
1869. WHYTE MELVILLE, M. orN.,
p. n. The surprise staggered him like a
blow. From su.ch blows, however, we
soon COME TO T!ME, willing to take any
amount of similar punishment.
COM E TRICKS. — See COME, sense 2.
COME UP SMILING, verbal phr.
(pugilistic). — To laugh (or grin)
at ' punishment ' ; hence (gene-
rally) to be superior to rebuff or
disaster ; to face defeat without
flinching.
1887. JOHN STRANGE WINTER, That
Imp, p. 67. And yet COME UP SMILING
at the end of it.
COME UP TO THE CHALK:— See
SCRATCH.
[Some othe. slang uses of the verb To
COME are To COME THE ARTFUL = to
essay to deceive ; To COME THE HEAVY
= to affect a vastly superior position ; To
COME THE UGLY=IO threaten ; To COME
THE NOB, or THE DON — to put on airs]
To COME THE L,ARDY-DARDY=to dress
for the public and ' look up to your
clobber'; To COME THE SERJEANT = IO
issue peremptory orders ; To COME THE
SPOON = to make love; To COME THE
GYPSY=IO try to defraud ; To COME THE
RoTHSCHiLD = to pretend to be rich ; and
To COME THE TRAVIATA (prostitutes',
now obsolete) = to feign consumption,
to put on ' the Traviata cough ' (ff.v.)
with a view to beguiling charitable males. ]
COM FLOGISTICATE, verb (American).
— To embarrass ; put out of coun-
tenance ; confuse ; or hoax. — See
BAMBLUSTERCATE.
COM FOOZLED, adj. (rare). — Over-
come ; exhausted.
1836. DICKENS, Pickwick, ch. xxxix.,
p. 340. ' Well,' said Sam, ' he's in a
horrid state o' love ; reg'larly COM-
FOOZLED, and done over with it.'
COMFORTABLE IMPORTANCE or
COMFORTABLE IMPUDENCE,
subs. (old). — A wife ; also a
mistress in a wife's position. Fr. ,
Mon gouvernement. For syno-
nyms, see DUTCH.
COMICAL, subs, (common). — A
napkin.
To BE STRUCK COMICAL, verb,
phr. (popular). — To be astonished.
COMING, ppL adj. (old). — i.
Wanton ; forward ; sexual. —
See COME, sense I.
1750. FIELDING, Tom Jones, ch. xii.
I dares to swear the wench was as willing
as he, for she was always a forward kind
of body. And when wenches are so
COMING, young men are not so much to
be blamed neither, for to be sure they do
no more than what is natural.
1785. GROSE, Diet'. Vulg. Tongue,
2. (old). — Sextlally capable.
— See COME, sense i.
COMMERCIAL, subs', (thieves') — See
quot.
1886. Tit-Bits, 31 July, p. 252. He
is one of the cleverest COMMERCIALS
(this is the polite name for rogues and
vagabonds generally) on the road.
2. (common). — An abbreviation
of ' commercial traveller. '
COMMISSION or MISH, subs. (old).
— A shirt. [From the Italian. —
Commister.
164
Common Sewer.
See CAMESA.]
see FLESH BAG.
For synonyms,
1567. HARMAN, Caveat (1814), p. 65,
1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all,
p, 37 (H. Club's Repr., 1874), s.v.
1622. JOHN FLETCHER, The Beggars
Bush. I crown thy nab with a gag of ben-
bouse, And stall thee by the salmon into
clowes To maund on the pad and strike all
the cheats To mill from the Ruffmans, and
COMMISSION, and slates.
1630. TAYLOR .(' The Water Poet '),
wks. quoted in Nares. As from our beds
we doe oft cast our eyes, Cleane linnen
yeelds a shirt before we rise, Which is a
garment shifting in condition, And in the
canting tongue is a COMMISSION ; In weale
or woe, in joy or dangerous drifts, A shirt
will put a man unto his shifts.
1671. R. HEAD, English Rogue, pt. L ,
ch. v., p. 48 (1874), s.v.
COM MISTER, subs, (bid); —A
clergyman. The same as
CAMISTER (q.v.}. For synonyms,
see DEVIL-DODGER.
COMMODITY, subs. (old). — The
female pudendum. For synonyms,
see MONOSYLLABLE.
1596. SHAKSPEARE, King John, ii.,
2. Tickling COMMODITY ; COMMODITY —
the bias of the world.
1785: GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
COMMON-BOUNCE, subs. (low). —
One using a lad as a decoy to
prefer a chaige of unnatural inter-
course.
1886. M." DAVITT, Leaves from a
Prison Diary, p. 109. THE COMMON
BOUNCE Of all the scoundrels that stalk
abroad in the world unhung for u> detected
enormities, this is the most infamous.
COM MON*DoiNGS,j-fcfo. (American).
— Every-day fare. [A phrase of
Western origin, at first restricted
in its meaning, but now including
ordinary transactions as com-
pared to those either large
or peculiarly profitable; applied
to men, actions, and things.
' What shall we do ? ' says a poor
frontiersman's wife, when she
hears of a Federal Officer who is
to take up his quarters at her
cabin for a day ; * I can't give
him COMMON-DOINGS.']
1835. HALiBtRTON ('Sam Slick'),
The Clockmaker, 38.! guess I'll order
supper. What shall it be? Cornbread
and COMMON DOINS, or wheatbread and
chicken fixins ?
COMMONER- GRUB, subs. (Win-
chester College).— A dinner for-
merly given by Commoners to
College after cricket matches.
[Commoners are boys not on the
foundation.]
COM MONEY, subs, (schoolboys').—
A clay marble. Cf. , ALLEY.
, 1836. C. DICKENS, Pickwitk -Papers
(about 1827), p. 28 (ed. 1857). On one
occasion he patted the boy on the head,
and after inquiring whether he had won
any alley tors or COM MONEYS lately (both
of which I understand to be a particular
species of marbles much prized by the
youth of this town), made use of this re-
markable expression — ' How should you
like to have another father?'
COMMON-JACK, subs, (military). —
A prostitute. For synonyms, see
BARRACK-HACK and TART.
COMMON-PLUGS, subs. (American).
— Ordinary members of society.
CdMMONSENsipAL, adj. (collo-
quial). — Marked with common
sense.
1880. Frazer's Magazine, Sep., p. 308.
The manner in which he (Alexander
Russell) begins must have delighted the
COMMONSENSICAL mind of old Charles
Maclaren.
COMMON SEWER, subs. phr. (com-
mon).— i. A drink ; dram ; or
' go.' [From common sewer = 'a
drain.'] For synonyms, see Go.
Communicator.
165 Concaves and Convexes.
2. (venery). — A prostitute.
COMMUNICATOR. AGITATE THE
COMMUNICATOR, verbalphr. (com-
mon).— To ring the bell.
COMP, subs, (printers'). — A com-
positor. [An abbreviated form
of ' companion ' now peculiar to
compositors, but originally applied
to pressmen who work in couples,
as well as to compositors who
work in a 'companionship,' or
SHIP (q.v.}.~\ GALLEY - SLAVE
(q.v.) is a variant; so are
ASS (q.v.) and DONKEY (q.v}.
C/., 1'iG.
1870. Sportsman, 17 Dec. ' A Chape}
Meeting.' I stood before the world a jour-
neyman COMP.
1886. Tit-Bits, 31 July, p. 252. At
provincial newspaper offices and other es>-
tablishments applications for work from
travelling COM PS are frequent.
1888. W. BLADES, in Notes and
Queries, 7 S., vi., 365. The printers who
work together in one room are to this day
called COMPS.
COMPANY. To SEE COMPANY,
verbal phr. (prostitutes'). — To
live by prostitution ; TO TAKE IN
FANCY WORK (q.V.}.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v<
COMPETITION WALLAH, subs. phr.
(Anglo-Indian/. — Orie who enters
the Indian Civil Service by
examination. [FVom COMPETI-
TION 4- ffindustani wallah, ' a
man' or "'person;']
1863. G. O. TREVELYAN, Title, THE
COMPETITION WALLAH.
1886. ///. Lon. News, g Jan., p. 31,
col. 3. It is quite certain that, if justice is
ever to be done to India, our COMPETI-
TION WALLAHS must not be encouraged
to look upon it as a mere Totn Tidler's
ground, where they are to remain just so
long as they require for picking up gold
and silver (in the form of pension and
savings).
COMPO, subs, (nautical). — A sailor's
' term for his monthly advance of
wages.
COMPY-SHOP, subs, (workmen's). —
A truck-shop. [ Probably a cor-
ruption of ' company-shop ' : work-
men before the 'passing of
certain Truck Acts, having been
frequently compelled to make
their weekly purchases at shops
either "kept by, or worked to the
profit of, their employer.]
1870. Globe, 24 Sept. The Acts of
Parliament which have been passed from
time to time in reference to truck are easily
evaded, for as a rule no workman is told
that he must buy at the COMPY-SHOP, but
the workmen well know that if they did not
resort thither they would soon be dis-
m'issed their employment.
CON, subs. (Winchester College). —
A rap on the head with the
knuckles, or with anything hard,
such as a cricket ball. [For sug-
gested derivations, see verbal
sense. ]
Verb. — To rap with the
knuckles. [The derivation for-
merly accepted at Winchester was
from KovlvKov = a knuckle, but
the editors of the Wykehamist
suggest its origin in the North
Country con, ' to fillip,' with
which the French se corner exactly
corresponds.]
CONCAVES AND CON VEXES, subs,
ph . (cardsharners'). Cards pre-
pared for cheating. All from the
eight to the king are cut CONVEX,
and all from the deuce to the
sever CONCAVE ; so that by cut-
ting the pack broadwise you cut
CONVEX, and by cutting them
Concern.
1 66
Confab.
lengthwise you cut CONCAVE.
Sometimes they are shaped the
reverse way, so that, if suspicion
arise, a pack so treated may be
substituted lor the other to the
same effect. In this trick the
sharper has less in his favour
than in others, because the
intended victim may cut in
the usual way, and so cut a low
card to the dealer. But the cer-
tainty of being able to cut or
deal a high or low card at plea-
sure, gives him an advantage
4 against which skill ir> of none avail.
Other modes of sharping are by
means of REFLECTORS (q.v.) ;
LONGS AND SHORTS (q.V.) ;
PRICKED CARDS (q.V.) ; THE
BRIDGE (q.V.) ; SKINNING (q.V.) \
WEAVING (q.V. ) ; THE GRADUS or
STEP (q.V.) ; PALMING (q.V.) ;
and THE TELEGRAPH (q.v.). A
French term for prepared cards is
les aiguilles a tricoter les cdles
(Anglice — OLD GENTLEMEN,^, v. ) ;
also une cartotichiere a portees (a
pack of prepared cards) ; and les
harnais — STOCKED BROADS (q.v. ).
— See also STOCK BROADS.
CONCERN, subs, (general). — The
pudenda, male or female. — See
CREAMSTICK and MONOSYL-
LABLE respectively for syno-
nyms.
CONCERNED, ppl. adj. (old). —
Drunk. For synonyms, see
SCREWED.
1686. Magdalen College and King
James II. (Oxford Hist. Soc.), quoted in
Athenaum, 8 Jan., 1887, p. 56. When
Mr. Anthony Farmer came to the Lobster
about eleven at night, he came much
CONCERNED in drink.
17(?,). SWIFT. [Quoted in DAVIES'
Supp. Lex.] (Mary, the cook-maid to
Dr. Sheridan.) Which, and I am sure
I have been his servant four years sine*?
October, And never call'd me worse than
sweetheart, drunk or sober ; Not that I
know his Reverence was ever CONCERN'D
to my knowledge ; Tho' you and your
come-rogues keep him out so late in your
wicked college.
1834. TAYLOR, Ph. van Art., pt. II.,
iii., 3. Oh, she's a light skirts ! yea, and
at this present A little, as you see, CON-
CERN'D with liquor.
CONCHERS, subs. (Australian). -
Tame or quiet cattle.
CON DIDDLE, verb (old). — To pur-
loin or steal. [From Latin con,
a pleonastic prefix, + DIDDLE,
'to cheat.' CONDIDDLED is
quoted by Grose in the Provincial
Glossary, 1787, as signifying 'dis-
persed. ']
1825. SCOTT, St. Ronaris Well, ch.
iv. ' Twig the old connoissoeur,' said the
Squire to the Knight, 'he is CONDIDDLING
the drawing."
CON DOG, verb (common). — To
agree with. [A facetious varia-
tion of ' concur ' ; ' cur ' = dog.]
CON FA B, subs, (colloquial). —
Familiar talk. [A contraction of
confabulation ; Latin confabulatio. ]
1778. D'ARBLAY, Diary, etc. (1876),
vol. I., p. 37. We had a very nice CON-
FAB about various books.
1789. WOLCOT ('P. Pindar'), Sub-
jects for Painters, in wks. (Dublin, 1795),
vol. II., p. 26. For lo, with many a
King and many a Queen, in close CONFAB
the gentleman is seen.
1841. Punch, vol. I., 75. Sibthorp,
meeting Peel in the House of Commons
after congratulating him on his present
enviable position, finished the CONFAB
with the following unrivalled conundrum.
1850. F. E. SMEDLEY, Frank Fair-
leigh, ch. xxv. ' Mr. Harry . . . called
Mr. Archer into his own room, and they
had a CONFAB.'
1884. W. C. RUSSELL, JacKs Court-
ship, ch. viii. This ended our CONFAB
and half an hour afterwards I stood in
the hall shaking hands all round.
Verb. — T'o talk in a familiar
manner; to chat. — See stibs. , sense.
Confectionery.
Conish.
1778. D'ARBLAY, Diary, etc. (1876),
vol. I. p. 85. Mrs. Thrale and I were
dressing, and, as usual, CONFABBING.
CONFECTIONERY, subs. (American).
— A drinking bar. An analogous
term is GROCERY, but for syno-
nyms, see LUSH-CRIB.
CONFIDENCE TRICK, DODGE, or
BUCK, stibs. phr. (common). — A
process of swindling, the basis of
which consists in obtaining trust
with the deliberate intention of
betraying it to your own ad-
vantage. A greenhorn meets (or
rather is picked up by) a stranger
who invites him to drink. The
stranger admires him openly, pro-
tests his CONFIDENCE in him, and
to prove his sincerity hands him
over a large amount of money
[snide] or valuables [bogus], with
which to walk off and return.
The greenhorn does both, where-
upon the stranger suggests that it
is his turn next, and being
favoured with certain proofs of
' confidence,' which in this case
are real, decamps and is no more
seen. This is the simplest form
of the trick, but the CONFIDENCE
MAN is inexhaustible in devices.
In many cases the subject's
idiosyncrasy takes the form of
an idiotic desire to overreach his
fellows; i.e., he is only a knave,
wrong side out, and it is upon this
idiosyncrasy that the operator
works. He offers a sham gold
watch at the price of a nickel one ;
he calls with presents from no-
where where none sre expected ;
he writes letters announcing huge
legacies to persons absolutely
kinless ; and as his appeal is ad-
dressed to the sister passions of
greed and dishonesty he seldom
fails of his reward. Fr., mener
en bateau un pante pour le rc-
faire — 'to stick a jay and flap
him.'
CONFLABBERATED, ppl. adj. (com-
mon). — Bothered ; upset; 'flum-
moxed. '
CONFLABBERATION, subs. (com-
mon). — A confused wrangle ; a
'hullabaloo.'
CONFOUNDED, adj. (colloquial). —
Excessive ; odious ; detestable ;
e.g., a CONFOUNDED nuisance,
lie, humbug, etc. [CONFOUND
is properly ' to mistake one for
another,' or 'to throw into con-
sternation.' In its colloquial
sense CONFOUNDEP is misused
much as are 'awful,? 'beastly,'
and other 'strumpets of speech.']
1766. O. GOLDSMITH, Yicar °f
Wakefield, eft. vii.'(ed. 1827), p. 427 Mr
Thornhill, loQ. : ' For what are tythes and
tricks but an imposition, all CONFOUNDED
imposture.'
CONFUBUSCATE, verb (popular).
—See quot., and Cf., CONFUS-
TICATE.
1880. Broadside Ballad, ' You mustn't
tickle me.' I hope I don't CONFUBUSCATE,
I'se Topsy from the Georgia State.
CON FUSTIGATE, verb (American).
— To confuse.
CONIACKER, subs, (thieves'). — A
counterfeiter ; smasher ; or
' queer-bit ' faker. [Obviously a
play upon COIN, money, and
HACK, to mutilate.] Fr., un
mornifleur tarte.
1871. DE VERB, A mericanisms, p. 296.
False coins, the makers of which are curi-
ously called CONIACKERS.
CONISH, adj. (old). — See quot.
1830. SIR. E. B. LVTTON, Paul
Clifford, p. 29 (ed. 1854). ' Paul, my ben
cull,' said he with a knowing wink, and
Conk.
168
Conk.
nudging the young gentleman in the left
side, ' vot do you say to a drop o' blue
ruin? or, as you likes to be CONISH (gen-
teel), I doesn't care if I sports you a glass
of port.'
CONK, subs, (popular). — The nose.
[Hotten says : possibly from the
Latin concha, a shell. Greek,
Koyxn — hence anything hollow.
A parallel is testa =a.n earthen-
ware pot, a shell, in Latin ; and in
later Latin- a skull ; whence the
French teste or tete = head. C/.,
quot., l8j8.]
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Boko
or boco ; proboscis ; smeller
bowsprit; claret-jug; gig; muzzle
cheese-cutter ; beak ; snuff-box
snorter ; post-horn ; paste-horn
handle; snout; nozzle; smelling
cheat ; snotter ; candlestick
celestial ; snottle-box ; snuffler
trumpet ; snorer ; peak.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Une
bouteille (popular : literally ' a
bottle ') ; un Bourbon (popular :
an abbreviated form of nez h la
Bourbon. In allusion to the thick,
prominent, and almost aquiline
Bourbon nose) ; un blair or blaire
(popular) ; un caillou (popular :
properly ' a flint.' In allusion to
a Bardolphiari, a light - giving,
quality) ; un tubercule (familiar :
applied to a big nose. In medicine
' a tumour,' ' swelling,' or ' pro-
tuberance ') ; un pivase (popular :
a nose of large dimensions.
Michel derives the word from
pive=.l& grog-blossom' or 'pin-
point,' properly a fir-apple) ; un
pi ton (popular : literally a geo-
graphical term meaning 'a peak.'
Un piton passe a lencaustique, a
red or ' copper-nose ') ; un pif or
pifre (general) ; une t'ompe
(literally ' a horn ' or * trumpet ') ;
une truffe (popular : literally ' a
truffle,' for which pigs are trained
to search. Hence a French-
man when he wants to call a
man a pig, says // a tin nez a
ch'ercherdes truffes] ; une trompette
(popular : literally * a trumpet ') ;
tin. naze (popular and thieves' :
a Proven9alism) ; tin nazaret
(popular) ; un chandelier (popu-
lar) ; une iasse (popular) ; un
sabot (popular) ; un os & moelle
(thieves': literally 'a marrow-
bone.' Faire juter Fos a moelle
= to use the fingeis as a hand-
kerchief) ; un eteignoir (popular :
a large nose ; literally, ' an extin-
guisher'); un nazonnant (popu-
lar) ; un minois (thieves' :
obsolete) ; un nurliton (popular);
un morviau (popular).
GERMAN SYNONYMS. Muffer
or Muffett (from muffen, muffeln,
or murfeln = ' to smell '); Schntitz-
ling or Schnauzling \ Schnut (a
North German form of Schnauze.
Schnut is a favourite nickname
among thieves, especially for
those who possess long noses ;
also a pet. name for a sweet-hearc
or doxy. Schnutenmelech or
Schnutcnkdnig\ the nosey king,
or nosey one) ; Schniffling.
ITALIAN SYNONYMS. Soffiante
(this exactly corresponds to the
English ' snorter ' ; it signifies
literally 'blowing' or 'breath-
ing ') > fiauto or Jlauto (properly
' a flute ') ; maremagno (Jiterally
*the great sea').
1838. Comic Almanack, p. 158. I
have inserted a small item from my sur-
geon's bill, for repairs of his companions'
noses, damaged by his passion for CON-
CHOLOGY.
1840. H. COCKTON, Valentine Vox,
ch. xxviii. He fancied it proper to put on
his nose before he alighted from the cab.
' Oh ! oh ! there's a CONK ! there's a
smeller! Oh! oh!' exclaimed about fifty-
voices in chorus.
Conoodle.
169
Const it u tional.
1859. Punch, vol. XXXVII., p. 54.
' Essence of Parliament.' July 25, Mon-
day, Lord Lyndhurst let fly and caught
him what (if pugilistic terms be not out of
place when one is alluding to so pacific
a personage) may be designated an ex-
tremely neat one on the CONK.
1860. Chambers Journal, vol. XIII.,
p. 348. His nose is his CONK.
1887. ATKIN, House Scraps,
'dexter ogle' has a ' mouse '• Hl'c
devoid of bark.
His
His CONK'S
1889. Ansivers, p Feb. That portion
of his countenance which is euphemistically
described in the language of lower London
as a CONK.
CONOODLE. — See CANOODLE.
CONSCIENCE, subs, (theatrical). —
Thus explained in Slang, Jargon,
and Cant : A kind of association
in a small company for the aljot-
ment of shares in the profits, etc.
The man who is lucky enough to
have a concern of his own, gener-
ally a very small affair, however
badly jie may act, must be the
leading man or first low comedian,
perhaps both. He becomes the
manager, of course, and thus has
one share for 'fit-up,' one for
scenery, one and a half for
management, one for wardrobe,
one and a half as leading man ;
and the same is given to the wife,
who, of course, will not play
anything but the juvenile lead,
but who at any other time would
be glad to play first old woman.
CONSIDERABLE BEND. To GO ON
THE CONSIDERABLE BEND. verb.
phr. (common). — To go in for a
bout of dissipation.
CONSONANT - CHOKER, subs, (com-
mon). — One that clips his G's
and muffles his R's.
CONSTABLE. To OUT or OVER-RUN
THE CONSTABLE, verbal phr.
(common). — To live beyond one's
means and get into debt; also, in
a figurative sense, to escape from
a bad argument ; ' to change the
subject'; to 1alk about what is
not understood.
1663. BUTLER, Hudibras, pt. I., canto
iii., 1. 1367. Quoth Hudibras, Friend
Ralph, mod hast OUT-RUN THE CON-
STABLE at last'; For thou art fallen as a
new Dispute, as senseless as untrue, But
to the former opposite, And contrary as
black to white.
1748. SMOLLETT, Rad. Random, ch.
xxjji. He inquired, ' how far have you
OVERRUN THE CONSTABLE?' I told him
that the debt amounted to eleven pounds.
1766. ANSTEY, New Bath Guide,
letter vii. And some people think with
such haste he began, That soon he THE
CONSTABLE greatly OUTRAN.
1782. WOLCOT ('P. Pindar'), Rights
of Kings, ode xi. Got deep in debt, THE
CONSTABLE OUT- RAN.
1836. DICKENS, Pickwick, ch. xli.,
p. 357. ' He RUN a match agin THE
CONSTABLE, and vun it.' ' In other words, I
suppose.' said Mr. Pickwick, 'he got into
debt.' 'Just that, sir,' replied Sam.
CONSTICIAN, subs, (theatrical). —
A member of the orchestra.
CONSTITUTIONAL, subs, (colloquial).
— A walk undertaken for the sake
of health and exercise [/.£., for
the benefit of the constitution].
Tronchiner, from Doctor Tron-
chin, is French for the verb,
tronchinade for the act.
1850. F. E. SMEDLEY, Frank Fair-
leigh, ch. xxix. One evening, about a week
before the examinations were to begin, I
was taking my usual CONSTITUTIONAL
after Hall.
1853. REV. E. BRADLEY ('Cuthbert
Bede'), Verdant Green, pt. II., p. 41.
At one time he was a great friend of Cocky
Palmer's, and used to go with him to the
Cock fights at Wheatley — that Village just
on the other side Shotover Hill — where we
did a CONSTITUTIONAL the other day.
Contango.
170
Continental.
1871. City of London Directory.
1 Facts and Anomalies." The valetudi-
narian has not much choice in the city for
a CONSTITUTIONAL, seeing that it possesses
but three walks, and ' Long Walk ' is the
shortest.
CONTANGO, subs. (Stock Exchange).
— A fine paid by the buyer to the
seller of stock for carrying over
the engagement to another
settling day, and representing a
kind of interest for a fourteen
days' extension. [Thought to be
a corruption of * continuation.']
1853. Notes and Queries, 17 Dec., p.
586, col. 2. CONTANGO : a technical term
m use among the sharebrokers of Liver-
pool, and I presume elsewhere, signifying
a sum of money paid for accommodating
either a buyer or seller by carrying the
engagement to pay money or deliver
shares over to the next account day.
1871. Daily News, 27 Feb. A large
amount of money was offered in the Stock
Exchange, in connection with the fort-
nightly settlement, which began this morn-
ing, and the CONTANGOES on British
railway securities were light, while the
supply of stock was small.
1872. Evening- Standard, n Dec.
1 City Intelligence.' Erie Shares are
steady ; the CONTANGO is 3d. to gd.
1884. Daily Nevus, Nov. 13, p. 5, col.
i. City shop is not less baffling, and it is
perhaps impossible for laymen to under-
stand what CONTANGO means. CON-
TANGO, by the way, would be a proud
motto for an ennobled stockbroker, and
would look well under a crest.
1887. ATKIN, House Scraps. B stands
for broker, for bull and for bear, C's the
CONTANGO that's paid by the bull.
CONTENT, adv. (old). — Dead. For
synonyms, see ALOFT and HOP
THE TWIG.
1785. GROSE, Diet. VuJg. Tmigue.
The cull's CONTENT : the man is past
complaining (cant), saying of a person
murdered for resisting the robbers.
CONTINENT, adv. (Winchester Col-
lege).—Ill ; on the sick list.
[Ft om eontinens cameram vel Jec-
tum, keeping one's room or bed.]
— See ABROAD.
1870. MANSFIELD, School Life at
Winchester College, p. 146. When a boy
felt ill, or inclined to quit school for a
period, he had to get leave CONTINENT
which was done by sending a boy in the
morning first to get leave from his tutor,
and then from the Head Master.
1878. ADAMS, Wykehamica^ p. 224
We suggested the ' CONTINENT room ' ;
and on being required to say what was
to become of the sick boys ? replied, that
it was notorious that there was never
anything the matter with them !
CONTINENTAL. NOT TO CARE or
BE WORTH A CONTINENTAL or
CONTINENTAL DAMN, phr.
(American). — To be worthless ;
net to care in the least degree.
[CONTINENTAL was the common
qualification at the time of the
Revolution of whatever concerned
the American Colonies before
they were united into a con-
federacy ; hence CONTINENTAL
congress, CONTINENTAL money,
CONTINENTAL troops ; while the
people themselves were generally
spoken of as CONTINENTALLERS
Or CONTINENTALS. CONTINEN-
TAL DAMN, a term almost uni-
versally applied to the worthless
CONTINENTAL paper money of
those days is, nevertheless held
by James Grant White (Words
and their Uses} to be a counter-
part, if not a mere modification,
of other phrases of the same
kidney — a tinker's or trooper's
damn, etc. — and as the colonial
troops were called CONTI-
NENTALLERS Or CONTINENTALS
during the war, and for many
years afterwards, it is probable
that it began as a CONTINENTAL'S
DAMN. Pass:ng to the general
phrase ' not worth a damn ' Mr.
White thinks that the 'damn ' =
A. S. cerse. = watercress. Piers
Ploughman (1362) sa)s* wisdom
and witt nowe is not worth a
kerse ' and transition, by reason
Continuations.
171
Convey.
of identity of sound and a love
of variety, from ' not worth a
curse ' to ' not worth a damn ' is
easy.] — See CARE and CURSE.
1869. S. L. CLEMENS ('Mark
Twain '), The Innocents at Home, p. 20.
He didn't give a CONTINENTAL for any-
body. Beg your pardon, friend, for coming
so near saying a cuss-word.
1888. Missouri Republican, 16 Feb.
I am not worrying about the nomination,
though. I DON'T CARE A CONTINENTAL
if I don't receive it.
CONTINUATIONS, subs, (general). —
Trousers. [Of analogous deriva-
tion to INEXPRESSIBLES J UN-
MENTIONABLES ; MUSN'T-MEN-
TION'EMS; UNTALKABOUTABLES,
etc.] For synonyms, see BAGS
and KICKS.
1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 4, col. i.
Like the London dustmen, the Newmarket
jockeys, the peripatetic vendors, or buyers
of ' old clo',' or the Albert CONTINUATIONS
at one pound one, they appear to be made
to measure for the same.
1853. WHYTE MELVILLE, Digby
Grand, ch. xx. To whose wonderfully-
fitting CONTINUATIONS, 'pants' he calls
them, the ' Ananyridians ' themselves are
but as a Dutchman's drawers.
CONTRAPTIONS, subs. (American).
— Small articles ; tools ; and so
forth.
1833. J. C. NEAL, Charcoal Sketches.
For my part, I can't say as how I see
what's to be the end of all of them new-
fangled CONTRAPTIONS. [DE V.]
CONTROL FORTUNE, verbal phr.
(card-sharpers'). — To cheat at
cards. — See ROOK.
CONVENIENCE, subs, (common). —
A water-closet or chamber-pot.
CONVENIENT, subs, (old).— A mis-
tress. For synonyms, see BAR-
RACK-HACK and TART.
1676. ETHEREGE, Man of Modf,
III., iii., in wks. (1704), 233. Dorimant's
CONVENIENT, Madam Loveit.
1688. SHADWELL, Sq. of Alsatia, II.,
in wks. (1720), iv., 47. But where's your
lady, captain, and the blowing, that is to
be my natural, my CONVENIENT, my pure?
Ibid, I., iv., p. 22. Shamweli. Thou art
i' th' right ; but, captain, where's the
CONVENIENT, the Natural? Hackum.
Why, at my house ; my wife has brought
her into a good humour ; she is very
pretty.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,*.v.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
CONVEXES. — See CONCAVES.
CONVEY, verb (old). — To steal. [In
law, to transfer from one person
to another 5 by which it will be
seen th^t ' there is a certain
humour in the expression.] For
synonyms, see PRIG. Cf., ANNEX.
1596, SHAKSPEARE, Merry Wives
a/ Windsor, Act i., Sc. 3. Nym. The
good humour is, to steal at a minute's
rest. Pist. CONVEY, the wise it call.
1607. MARSTON, What You Will,
II., 260. Bu t, as I am Crack, I will CONVEY,
crossbite, and cheat upon Simplicius.
1883. A. DOBSON, Old World
Idylls, p. 237. If they hint, O Musician,
the piece that you played Is nought but a
copy of Chopin or Spohr ; That the ballad
you sing is but merely CONVEYED From
the stock of the Arnes and the Purcells of
yore.
1889. Pall Mall Gaz., 31 Oct., p. 3,
col. i. Three great works of research
and collaboration have been projected and
partially or wholly executed in England
within the lifetime of thepresentgeneration.
They are the Encyclopedia Britannica,
the Dictionary of National Biography,
and the New English Dictionary. Each
of these, but especially the last (from which
the Century crew have CONVEYED freely)
is as perfect in its way as any human
undertaking can be.
1890. Scots Observer, 14 June, p. 98,
col. i. Lest this may seem an ungenerous
suspicion, I hasten to say that it would
never have crossed my mind had not so
many of the other characters in this re-
markable production (?) been obviously
CONVEYED (delicious word !) from well-
known novels.
Conveyance.
172
Cony- Catcher.
CONVEYANCE, subs. (old). —A theft.
— [See CONVEY and CONVEY-
ANCER.]
1592. SHAKSPEARE, /. Hen. VI., i., 3.
Since Henry's death, I fear there is
CONVEYANCE.
1712. Spectator, No. 305. Provided
the CONVEYANCE was clean and unsus-
pected, a youth might afterwards boast
of it.
CONVEYANCER, subs. (old). — A
thief. [From CONVEY, to steal.
In law, one whose occupation is
to draw conveyances or transfers
of property, deeds, etc.] — See
CONVEYER.
1857. SNOWDRN, Mag. Assistant (3
ed.), p. 445. To pick pockets : to buzz,
buzzmen, clyfakeis, CONVEYANCERS.
CONVEYANCING, verbal subs (com-
mon).— Thieving. [In law, the
act or practice of drawing up deeds,
leases, etc., for transferring the
title to property from one per-
son to another. C/7, CONVEY,
to steal.]
1865. MR. SMOLLETT, in House of
Commons, 14 March. ' Speech on the
Nawab of the Carnatic.' Pickpockets in
I^ondon, when they appropriated purses
or watches, called the transaction CON-
VEYANCING.
1889. Modern Society (quoted in .9.,
/. and C.), p. 269. The green youth who
attempted to decamp with 's watch
. . . was properly punished for his verdancy
in the art of CONVEYANCING.
CONVEYER, subs, (old).— A thief.
[One who conveys or steals.]
Fr., emposleur.
1597. SHAKSPEARE, Richard II., iv.,
sub. fin. O good convey ! CONVEYERS are
you all, That rise thus nimbly by a true
king's fall.
CONY or TOM CONY, subs. (old). —
A simpleton. [From the pro-
verbial simplicity of the rabbit
or CONY.] — See CONY -CATCH,
verb, and for synonyms, BUFFLE-
HEAD and CABBAGE-HEAD.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vul. Tongue, s.v.
CoNY-CATCH,ew£ (old).— To cheat;
deceive ; trick ; or ' BITE ' (q.v.}.
[Literally 'to catch conies.']
Dekker, in his English Villainies,
describes the system which is
obviously the equivalent of the
modern CONFIDENCE TRICK
(q.v. ). A society of sharpers of
this type was called 'a warren,'
and their dupes ' rabbit-suckers '
(that is, baby rabbits), or conies.
At other times the gang were
' bird-catchers,' and their quarry
was ' a gull,' etc. For synonyms,
see STICK.
1593. SHAKSPEARE, Tawing of the
Shrew, v., i. Take heed, signor Baptista,
lest you be CONNY-CATCHED in this
business.
1596. NASHE, Saffron Walden, in
wks. III., 158. Hereby hee thought to
CONNY-CATCH the simple world.
1604. DEKKER, Honest Wk., in wks.
(1873) II., 12. Why, sister, do you thinke
He CONNY-CATCH you, when you are my
cozen ?
CONY CATCHER, sttbs. (old). — A
cheat ; sharper ; or trickster.
[From CONY-CATCH, verb (q.v.\
+ ER. ] For synonyms, see ROOK.
1592. JOHN DAY, Blind Beggar, Act
Hi., Sc. 3, p. 57. We'll go seek out
those CONY-CATCHERS ; and ere I catch
them, I'll make them pay soundly all for
their roguery.
1599. MINSHEW, Dict.,s.v. ACONIE-
CATCHER : a name given to deceivers, by
a metaphor, taken from those that rob
warrens, and conie-grounds, using all
means, sleights, and cunning to deceive
them, as pitching of haies before their
holes, fetching them in by tumblers, etc.
1602. ROWLANDS, Greenes Ghost, p.
3. (Hunterian Club's Repr.) And the
name of CONICATCHERS is so odious, that
now a dayes it is had vp, and vsed for an
opprobrious name for euerie one that
sheweth the least occasion for deceit.
Cony-Catching. *73
Cook.
1822. SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel, ch.
xxiii. Marry, thou hast me on the hip
there, thou old miserly CONY-CATCHER !
CONY-CATCHING, verbal subs. (old).
— Cheating ; trickery ; swindling
after the manner of CONY-
CATCHERS (q.v.)- Shakspeare,
says Nares, has once used it to
express harmless roguery, play-
ing jocular tricks, and no more
[seeqaot., 1593]. For synonyms,
see SELL.
1592. GREENE, Groundwork of Canny-
Catching, p. 2. ... this booke, wherein
thou shall find the ground-worke of CONNY-
CATCHING.
1593. SHAKSPEARE, Taming of the
Shrew, iv., i. Come, you are so full of
CONYCATCHING.
1608. MIDDLETON, Trick to Catch
the Old One, III., iv. Thou hast more
CONY-CATCHING devices than all London.
1703. WARD, London Spy, pt. XL,
3. 260. And being almost Drunk, their
an on CONEY-CATCHING.
p. 260.
Brains r
1884. Daily News, Jan. 5, p. 5, col. 2.
CONEY-CATCHING, or its modern equiva-
lent, the confidence trick.
Ppl. adj. (old).— Mutatis fnu-
tandis, the same as the substan-
tive (q.v.}.
159*5. SHAKSPEARE, Merry Wives of
Windsor, i., i. Marry, sir, I have matter
in my head against you ; and. against your
CONEY-CATCHING rascals, Bardolph Nym,
and Pistol.
1596. BEN , JONSON, Every Man in
His Humour, iii., i. Whoreson CONEY-
CATCHING rascal 1 I could eat the very
hilts for anger.
COO-E-E-E, or Coo-EY, subs. (Aus-
tralian). — A signal cry of the
Australian blackfellow, adopted
by the invading whites. The
final ' e ' is a very high note, a
sort of prolonged screech, that
resounds for miles through the
bush, and thus enables parties
that have lost each other to
ascertain their relative positions.
1883. _ Graphic, July 7, p. 6, col. 3.
COO-E-E is the Australian cry for help.
When the two hands are used, and the
coo properly pitched, it can be heard a
wonderful distance. Whenever a COO-E-E
is heard in the bush it is a matter of con-
science to answer it and see what is
arnLs.
. 1887; G: L. APPERSON, in All the
Year Round, 30 July, p. 67, col. i. A
common mode of expression is to be ' within
COOEY ' of a place. Originally, no doubt,
this meant to be within the distance at
which the well-known COOEY or bush cry,
could be heard ; now it simply means
within easy reach of a place. To be
'within, COOEY' of Sydney is to be at
the distance of an easy journey there-
from.
1889. E. S. RAWSON, In Australian
Wilds. ' A Queensla,nd Mystery.' It is
solely on this^ or the mad theory, that
one could account for the startling effects
of Jim's COOEE or otherwise to the be-
lated wanderer it would have been a
revelation of joy and rescue.
COOK, verb (colloquial). — i. To
tamper with, garble, or falsify.
Accounts are COOKED when so
altered as to look better than they
are. Pictures are COOKED when
dodged-up for sale. Painters say
that a picture will not COOK when
it is so excellent as to be b'eyond
imitation.
1751. SMOLLETT, Peregrine Pickle,
ch. xcviii. Some falsified printed accounts,
artfully COOKED up, on purpose to mislead
and deceive.
1856. Punch, vol. XXXI., p. 189.
' Advertisement of Bubble Bank Book-
keeping,' by Prof. McDooall. It is
remarkable especially for the facilities it
offers for COOKING the accounts, as it
entirely prevents any possibility of
checking them.
18H3. C. READE, Hard Cash, Hi, p.
19. When A. has been looking up to B
for thirty years, he cannot look down
on him all of a sudden, just because he
catches him falsifying accounts. Why,
man is a COOKING animal ; commercial
man especially.
1871. The Athenaeum, 4 Feb. The
great work of art of Ivan Turgeneff,
the Notes by a Sportsman had been what
is vulgarly called COOKED for the French
markets.
Cook.
i74
Cook.
1872. SPENCER, Study of Sociology,
ch. yi., p. 119 (9 ed.). The dishonesty
implied in the adulterations of tradesmen
and manufacturers ... in COOKING of
railway accounts and financial pros-
pectuses.
1888. GRANT ALLEN, This Mortal Coil,
ch. v. Where Warren Relf was seated
COOKING a sky in one of his hasty seaside
sketches.
134
1890. Saturday Review, i Feb., p.
_ ,, col. i. We referred, in our last article
upon this [gambling] subject, to the Pat is
Mutuels, and explained their working.
Now money has to be found somehow for
the poorer classes to get to the Mutuel
and back their fancies, and the clerk
COOKS his books, and the shop-boy ' fingers
the till.1
2. See COOK ONE'S GOOSE, of
which it is an abbreviation.
3. (colloquial). — To swelter
with heat and sweat. In this
sense the Fourbesque has ansare ;
literally * to be out of breath.'
To COOK ONE'S GOOSE, -verbal
phr. (common). — To ' settle ' ;
' worst ' ; kill ; or ruin.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. To
anodyne ; to put to bed ; to snuff
out ; to give, or cook one's
gruel ; to corpse ; to cooper up ;
to wipe out ; to spiflicate ; to
settle, or settle one's hash ; to
squash; to shut up; to send to pot;
to smash; to finish; to do for ; to
bugger up ; to put one's light out ;
to stop one's little game ; to
stop one's galloping ; to put on
an extinguisher ; to clap a
stopper on ; to bottle up ; to
squelch; to play hell (orbuggeiy)
with ; to rot ; to squash up ; to
stash; to give a croaker. For
synonyms in the sense of cir-
cumvention, see FLOORED.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Avoir
son affaire (familiar : this aho
means to have got 'a settler,'
and ' to be absolutely drunk ' ) ;
buter (thieves' = ' to kill ' or
' execute ') ; escarper (thieves') ;
envoy er essay er une chemise desapin
(military : literally ' to send one
to try on a deal shirt.' Cf.,
' wooden surtout ' = coffin) ; faire
suer un chene (popular : suer =
to sweat ; chene = cove) ; Jaire
passer le gout du pain (familiar
= * to give one his gruel ') ;
coffier (thieves' : an abbreviation
of escoffier, to kill) ; conir
(thieves') ; <#<w/r (thieves' : former-
ly esbasir; Fourbesque sbasire and
Germania esbasir] ; mettre a
f ombre (general = to put in the
shade) ; endormir (thieves') ;
entailler (thieves') ; abasonrdir
(thieves' : properly ' to astound') ;
chouriner or suriner (thieves' :
' chourin ' or surin = a knife) ;
estonrbir (thieves') ; scionner
(thieves': from sci0n = a. knife);
faire un machabee (thieves' : in
cant machabee = a drowned
corpse. Michel thinks the
expression originated either in
the reading of //. Macabees, ch.
xii., which is still retained in the
Mass for the Dead, or through
la danse macabre, the Dance of
Death shown in the engravings of
the fourteenth and fifteenth
centuries); faire flatter un pante
( popular = to cook one's goose by
drowning. Plotter = to float, i.e.,
like a corpse) ; crever la paillasse
(popular : literally ' to rip open
the mattress') ; laver le linge dans
la saignante (thieves' : to wash
linen in blood) : devisserle trognon
a quelqu'un (popular) ; enionner
(popular : see Michel) ; estran-
gouiller (popular = * to strangle ' ;
from a veterinary term etran-
guillon = i the strangles') ; tortilh'r
la vis, or le gaviau (thieves');
terrer (thieves' : to * guillotine') ;
faire la grande soulasse
Cook.
175
Cook.
(thieves' : soulas, Old French
= ' solace ' or ' comfort ') ;
rebatir un pante (thieves') ; sonner
(popular) ; lingrer (popular) ;
envoy er ad patres (popular = ' to
send to one's fathers ') ; envoy er en
paradis (general = ' to send to
kingdom-come ') ; envoyer en
parade (thieves' = ' to send on
parade ') ; capahtiter (thieves' =
to get rid of an accomplice to
secure his share of the booty ;
sometimes rendered by refroidir
a la capahut) ; decrocher (mili-
tary : literally 'to unhook,' 'to
take down ') ; descendre quel-
qu'un (popular = to bring down) ;
couper le sifflet (popular = to
cut one's whistle) ; watriniset
(popular : in reference to M.
Watrin, who was murdered
by the Decazeville miners in
1886. C/., the English 'to
burke'); moucher le qiiinquet
(popular : ' to snuff the lamp ') ;
faire saigner du nez (thieves' =
' to give a bloody nose ') ; sabler
(thieves') ; faire banque (common] ij
suager (thieves' : from suer^' to
sweat').
SYNONYMS. Abjetzen
(to kill by cutting or stabbing) ;
abmeken, abmacken (Hebrew
mocho = to put aside, to destroy,
or to give 'tit for tat.' North
German afmurksen} ; bekern
machen (from the Hebrew peger.
Used of animals it is the equiva-
lent of krepieren) ; hargenen or
horeg sein ( ' to kill ' or ' murder. '
Horeg, the murderer ; Horug, the
murdered ; nehros?, murdered ;
nehrog zverden, to be murdered ;
Here? or ffaripo, the murder) ;
heimih^^n) or heimerlich spiehn
(heim, a corruption of the
Hebrew chajim = life) ; Kappore
machen or fetzen (literally * to
make purified.' From the He-
brew kophar) • memissen or
memissren ; die Neschome nehmen
(Hebrew neschomo, the soul or
life); pegern or peigern ; rozechenen
or rozchenen (Hebrew, rozach =
to kill) \schachten (Hebrew, scho-
chat}.
ITALIAN SYNONYM. Sbasirc
(literally ' to cause to faint ' or
'swoon.' Sbasire su le juni =
to swoon on the rope, i.e.t to be
hanged).
SPANISH SYNONYMS. Apretar
d uno la nuez (properly to clutch
the Adam's apple, i.e., the
throat) ; apiolar (properly ' to
gyve a hawk' or 'to tie game
together by the legs ' ; and
metaphorically, ' to seize ' or
apprehend) j despabilar (literally
'to snuff a candle.' Cf., Fr.
moucher le quinquet and the Eng.
'to put on, an extinguisher ') ;
apercollfir (also, ' to seize one by
the collar ').
•1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and L on. Poor, vol. III., p. 360. When
the clarences, the cabs that carry four,
came in, they COOKED the hackney-coach-
men in no time.
1853. REV. E. BRADLEY (' Cuthbert
Bede '), Adventures of Verdant Green, p.
270. Billy's too big in the Westphalia's
gig-lamps, you're the boy to COOK Fos-
brooke's GOOSE.
1861. A. TROLLOPE, Framley Par-
sonage, ch. xlii. Chaldicotes, Gagebee,
is a COOKED GOOSE, as far as Sowerby is
concerned! And what difference could it
make to him whether the Duke is to own
it or Miss Dunstable.
186?. G. A. SALA , Trip to Barbary,
ch. v. The first Napoleon . . . once
nearly killed himself by his addictedness
to Provensal cookery. Yes ; a mess of
mutton and garlic — 'tis said it was poisoned
— very nearly COOKED THE GOOSE of
Achilles.
1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude,
ch. ii., p. 128. Seeing how the fellow was
acting he sent him two 'shise' notes, which
gave him a dose that COOKED him. I saw
the man myself, serving his time at
Dartmoor.
Cookey.
176
Cooler.
1888. Puck's Library, May, p. 10.
When the chromo first emerged from
chaos, the producers of that kind of pic-
ture insisted that the GOOSE of the artist
was COOKED.
COOKEY or COOKIE. To BET A
COOKIE, verbal pkr. (American).
— The custom of preparing the
cakes still knowri in Scotland as
COOKIES was part and parcel of
American life. [The COOKEY,
like the English pancake on
Shrove Tuesday, and the hot
cross bun on Good Friday, forms
a special old-fashioned dainty, at
Christmas-tide and New Year.
From the Dutch kcekje, dim. of
keek, a cake.]
1870. BRET HARTE, Luck of Roar-
ing Camp, p. 227. Don't know what he
is ! He lost every hoof and hide, I'll BET A
COOKEY !
1872. Lloyd's Weekly, 28 April. ' Pro-
bate Court Report.' Might have said she
would BKT A COOKEY that the will was in
America. (Laughter.)
1888. Detroit Free Press, 31 March.
A book has just been published to instruct
reporters in ,the use of proper phrases. We
BET A COOKEY no reporter will ever read it.
COOKEYSHINE, Subs, (old Scots).
— An afternoon meal at which
COOKIES (q.v.) form a staple dish.
Cf. ,TEA-FIGHT,MUFFIN-WORRY,
etc. (q.v.}. [From COOKEY, a
small cake, + SHINE (q.v.), an
entertainment.]
1863. C. READE, Hard Cash, I., 103.
Dr. Sampson, log. : We shall see whether
we are on the right system : and if so,
we'll dose her with useful society in a more
irrashinal forrm ; conversaziones, COOKEY-
SHINES, et cetera. And if we find ourselves
on the wrong tack, why then we'll hark
back.
COOK-RUFFIAN, stibs. (old).— A bad
or indifferent cook, 'who w< uld
cook the devil in his feathers.'
COOL, adj. (colloquial). - I. Imper-
tinent ; audacious ; calmly impu-
dent.
1870. Figaro, 22 May. It is con-
sidered to be COOL to take a man's hat
with his name written in it, simply because
you want to get his autograph.
COOL AS A CUCUMBER, phr.
(common). — Without heat ; also,
metaphorically, calm and com-
posed.
2. (In reference to money ;
e.g., a COOL hundred, thousand,
etc.) Commonly expletive; but
sometimes used to cover a sum a
little above the figure stated.
1750. FIELDING, Tom /ones, bk.
VIII., ch. xii. Mr. Watson, too, after
much variety of luck, rose from the table
in some heat, and declared he had lost a
COOL hundred, and would play no longer.
1771. SMOLLETT, Humphry Clinker,
1. 41. I'll bet a COOL hundred he swings
before Christmas.
18251 Miss EDGEWORTH, Love and
Law, i., 2. Suppose you don't get six-
pence cos,ts, and lose your COOL hundred
by it, still it's a great advantage.
1841. LYTTON, Night and Morning,
bk. II., ch. x. Borrowed his money under
pretence of investing it in the New Grand
Anti-Dry-Rot Company ; COOL hundred —
it's only just gone, sir.
1890. Illustrated Bits, 29 March, p.
8, col. 2. I made three thousand last year,
but if I have good luck this year I shall
make a COOL fifty thousand.
3. (Eton College).— Ste COOL
KICK and the following.
Verb (Eton College).— To kick
hard.
COOL -CRAPE, subs. (old). — A
shroud, or winding sheet. — Grose.
COOLER, subs. (old). — i. A woman.
— Grose [1785]. For synonyms,
see PETTICOAT.
1742. CHARLES JOHNSON, Highway-
men and Pyrates p. 293. ' Not I,' replied
Jones, very readily, '1 neither know nor
Cool-Kick.
177
Coon.
care who you are, tho' before you spoke I
took you for a brewer because you travel
with your COOLER by your side.'
2. (American thieves'). — A
prison. For synonyms, see CAGE.
3. (common). — Ale or stout
after spirits and water. Some-
times called 'putting the beggar
on the gentleman ' ; also DAMPER
(f.V.>
1821. P. EGAN, Tom and Jerry (ed.
1890), p. 76. Many persons ... in order
to allay the heat or thirst arising from the
pernicious use of such quantities of ardent
spirits, frequently take a glass of porter,
which is termed a COOLER, ' a damper," etc.
COOL-KICK, subs. (Eton College).
— When a BEHIND (q.v.) or
' back ' gets a kick with no one
up to him.
COOL- LADY, subs. (old). — A. female
follower of the camp who sells
brandy. — Grose [1785].
COOL-NANTZ, subs, (old).— Brandy.
For synonyms, see DRINKS.
COOL ONE'S COPPERS, verbal phr.
(popular). — To allay the morn-
ing's thirst after a night of drink.
C/.t HOT-COPPERS and DRY AS A
LIME BASKET.
1861. T. HUGHES, Tom Brown at
ford, ch. iii. We were pla
John in Blake's rooms till three
Oxford, ch. iii. We were playing Van
ree last night,
and he gave us devilled bones and mulled
port. A fellow can't enjoy his breakfast
after that without something TO COOL HIS
COPPERS.
1870. Sportsman, 17 Dec. 'A Chapel
Meeting.' Bring me a mouthful, George,
shouted a grasping Typo one day to his
churn, who, at the trough in the furthest
corner of the room, was cooLiNG His COP-
PERS with cold water.
COON, subs. (American). — I. A
man. [COON, a curtailment of
' racoon ' ( Procyon lotor}, is thought
to be of Indian origin (Algonquin,
aroughcun, the scratcher), though
some trace it to the French rat on.
The contraction dates fiom about
1840, when the racoon was used
as a kind of political totem.]
1860. Punch, vol. XXXIX., p. 227.
' The Baby in the House.' I sign him,
said the Curate Howe, O'er Samuel Bur-
bott George Hethune, Then baby kicked up
such a row As terrified that reverend COON.
2. (American). — A nigger,
£»£., a coons' bawdy house = a
house where none are kept but
girls of colour.
GONE COON, subs. phr.
(American). — One in a serious or
hopeless difficulty. A Scots
equivalent is GONE CORBIE, t.e.y
a dead crow. Cf., GONE GOOSE.
[The explanation generally given
is that during the American War
a spy dress- d in racoon skins
ensconced himself in a tree. An
English rifleman (the nationalities
are reversible) levelled his piece
at him, whereupon the American
exclaimed : ' Don't shoot, I'll
come down. I know I am a
GONE COON.']
1845. MR. GIDDINGS, in Congress
(quoted in De Vere). Besides the acquisi-
tion of Canada, which is put down on all
sides as a GONK COON.
1857, DICKENS, Lying Awake, in
Reprinted Pieces, p. 192. 1 must think of
something else as I lie awake ; or, like
that sagacious animal in the United States
who recognised the colonel who was such a
dead shot, I am a GONE COON.
1864. Derby Day, p. 51. We shan't
get to your advice till the crack's hocussed
and done for, and we're all RUINED AS
SAFE AS COONS.
1867. London Herald, 23 March, p.
221, col. 3. ' We're safe to nab him ; safe
as houses. He's a GONE COON, sir.'
1883. CALVERLRY, Fly Leaves, p. 83.
' On the Brink.' She stood so calm, so like
a ghost, Betwixt me and that magic moon.
That I already was almost A FINISHED
COON.
12
Ci>oiis Age.
178
Cop.
TO GO THE WHOLE COON,
verbal phr. (American). = ' To
go the whole hog.'
COON'S AGE, subs. phr. (American).
— A long time ; ' a blue moon. '
The racoon is held to be a long-
lived animal.
b. 1780, d. 1851. AUDUBON, Life, I.,
p. 178. ' Wall, Pete, whar have you been ?
I hav'n't seen you this COON'S AGE."
COOP, subs, (thieves'). — A prison.
For synonyms, see CAGE.
1866. London Miscellany, 3 Mar., p.
58, col. 3. I don't think that's no little let-
down for a cove as has been tip-topper in
his time, and smelt the insides of all the
COOPS in the three kingdoms;
1877. J. GREENWOOD, Dick Temple.
You say that you have been in the COOP as
many times as I have.
COOPED-UP, ppL, adj., phr. (old).
— Imprisoned. [From COOP (q.v.),
a place of detention.] For syno-
nyms, see LIMBO.
COOPER or COOPER UP, verb
(thieves' and vagrants'). — I. To
destroy ; spoil ; settle ; or finish.
2; (thieves'). — To forge;
3. (American). — To under-
stand. For synonyms, see TWIG.
COOPERED, pph adj. (racing,
thieves', and vagrants'). — Ho-
cussed ; spoiled ; ruined ; e.g. ,
a house is said to be COOPERED
when the importunity of many
tramps has caused its inmates to
cold-shoulder the whole frater-
nity ; a COOPERED horse is a
horse that has been ' got at ' with
a view to prevent its running.
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon.Poor,\o\. I., p. 232. 'COOPER'D,'
spoiled by the imprudence of some other
patterer.
COOPED, adj. (old). — Whipped. —
D. HAGGART, Life, Glossary, p.
171 [1821].
COOT, subs. (American). — A stupid
fellow ; generally * a silly ' or
'mad old COOT.' Stupid as a
COOT is a common English pro-
vincialism . [The fulica altra, the
bald or common COOT, like the
ostrich, is said to bury its head
when pursued, thinking none can
see it, as it cannot see itself.] For
synonyms, see BUFFLE-HEAD and
CABBAGE-HEAD.
COOTER. — See COUTER.
COP, subs, (common). — A police-
man. [From COP, verb, sense I.]
For synonyms, see BEAK, sense I,
and COPPER.
1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, or
Rogue's Lexicon, p. 124. Oh ! where will
be the culls of the bing . . . And all
the COPS and beaks so knowin', A hun-
dred stretches hence ?
1879. Punch, 3 May, p. 201, col. i.
I suppose if the Toffs took a fancy for
chewing a stror or a twig, Like a tout or a
hostler, or tumbled to carryin1 a bludgeon
as big As a crib cracker's nobby persuader,
Pall Mall would be jolly soon gay With
blue-blooded blokes a green COP might
mistake for foot-pads on the lay.
Verb (common). — I. To seize ;
steal ; catch ; take an unfair ad-
vantage in a bet or bargain.
[Cop has been associated with
the root of the Latin cap-io, to
seize, to snatch ; also with the
Gypsy kap or cop = to take ;
Scotch kep ; and "Gallic ceapan.
Probably, however, its true radix
is to be found in the Hebrew
cop = a hand or palm. Low-
class Jews employ the term, and
understand it to refer to the act of
snatching. ]
[Cop like CHUCK (g.v.), is a sort of
general utility verb. Thus to COP THE
Cop.
179
Cop.
NEEDLE = to get angry ; to COP THE
BULLET or THE DOOR = to get the sack ;
to COP IT HOT = to be severely clapped ;
to COP IT (said ol women) = to be got
with child ; and to COP THE BREWER =
to be drunk.]
For synonyms in the sense of
to steal, see PRIG ; and in the
sense of to seize, see NAB.
1864. Manchester Courier^ 13 June.
' Copper "... a slang name for a police-
man derived from COP, which is a well
known and generally used vulgarism for
' catch.1
1879. J. W. HORSLEY, in Macm.
Mag., XL., p. 500. I was taken by two
pals (companions) to an orchard to COP
(steal) some fruit.
1883. Punch, Sept. 29, p. 146, col. 2.
1 Bill's not such a fool as you think ; He'll
COP my truncheon, pat, Jam the whistle
into my month, And stretch the Peeler
flat.'
1887. W. E. HENLEY, Villotfs
Straight Tip to all Cross Coves. Booze
and the blowens COP the lot.
2. trs. and intrs. (thieves'). —
To arrest ; imprison ; betray ;
ensnare.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. To give
the clinch ; to make one kiss the
clink ; to accommodate ; to
nobble; to bag; to box; to fist (old);
to scoop; to take up; to victimize;
to run in ; to give or get one the
boat ; to buckle ; to smug ; to
nab ; to collar ; to pinch ; to
nail ; to rope in ; to shake ; to
pull up.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Eni-
pioler (thieves') ; tomber au plan
(thieves' = to be apprehended) ;
etre mis au plan (thieves' = to
be imprisoned) ; enfourailler
(thieves') ; bdcler or bonder
(thieves' : literally to buckle,
put a ring to) ; bloquer (military :
properly to blockade) ; etre le bon
(popular = to be arrested ; also to
be the right man) ; boulotter de or
coucher a la boite (military = to get
frequently locked up. La grosse
boite = a prison ; boile aux re-
flexions = a prison cell) ; mettre
quelqu'un dans la blouse (familiar
= to 'pocket,' as at billiards) ; se
faire cuire (popular = to be ar-
rested) ; cloiier (popular : clou =
guard-room or cell) ; caller au bloc
(popular : caller is properly to
stick, as with glue, but in a slang
sense it carries the meaning of to
place or put ; bloc = prison) ;
piper (familiar) ; poisser (popular
and thieves') ; grimer (popular) ;
cogtier (thieves' : also, to peach or
inform) ; enflacquer (thieves') ;
mettre otfOurrer dedans (familiar :
literally to put inside) ; mettre a
F ombre (common : literally to put
in the shade) ; mettre au violon
(popular : see violon under
CAGE) ; grappiner (popular) ;
poser un gluau (thieves' = to
lime, as in snaring birds) ;
empoigner (popular = to fist ;
possibly a dictionary word) ; piger
(popular) ; emballer (popular and
thieves' ; properly to pack up) ;
gripper (this has passed into the
language) ; encoffrer (popular =
to 'box up'); encager (familiar
= to cage) ; accrocher (pro-
perly to hook) ; ramasser de
la boite (military : also ramasser
quelqrfun and se faire remasser} ;
souffler (thieves') ; faire tomber
malade (popular = to make one
ill) ; agrafer (literally to hook or
clasp ; avoir son linge lave
(thieves' = to have one's linen
washed).
GERMAN SYNONYMS. — Bekaan
scheften (from the Hebrew kaari) ;
im Kiihlen sitzen (literally to sit
in the cold. Cf., Fr., mettre a
V ombre] \ krank werden (literally
Copbusy.
i So
Copper.
to fall ill ; equivalent to the Fr.
faire tomber malade] ; ins Leek
baun (Viennese thieves.' M.H.G.
luken = to lock up) ; millek sein
(to be imprisoned) ; trefe j alien
(to be apprehended un«er grave
circumstances ; e.g., with burg-
lar's instruments or stolen goods);
versargen (to imprison for a long
time) ; abfassen (students' slang) ;
ankappen (popular colloquialism) ;
klemmen (M.H.G. klembern = to
press heavily); taffen, tofesnehmen,
tofes lokechnen, or tojes lekichnen
(from the .Hebrew topkas] ; ver-
chewehii vercheifeln or verheifeln
(from the Hebrew chobal\ also to
bind or gag).
COPBUSY, verb (thieves'). — See
quot.
1857; SNOWDEN, Mag. Assistant,
3 ed., p. 445. To hand over the booty to a
confederate or girl — to COPBUSY.
COPPER, subs, (popular). — A police-
man. [From COP, verb, senses I
and 2, (q.v.\ to catch, + ER ;
literally a catcher.] Equivalents
are ROBIN or ROBIN-REDBREAST ;
M.P. (i.e., member of police] ; COP-
PERMAN (an Australian prison
term) ; but for synonyms, see
BEAK, to which may be added the
following.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Un
chasse - coquin (popular: also =
a ' beadle' and 'bad wine.' Liter-
ally ' a beggar-driver ' : Cf.,
chasse-chien = a beadle employed
to drive away dogs) ; un chasse-
noble (thieves') ; le cadratin
(police ; a term applied to ihe
detective force ; properly what
printers call an ' em quad ') ; fen-
plaque (thieves') ; une fauvette &
tfre noire (thieves' : literally ' a
bldck-cap ') ; tin bricul or bricule
(thieves': an inspector of police) ;
une casserole (thieves' = a detec-
tive ; also a prostitute. Pro-
perly 'a saucepan' or warming-
pan) ; un emballeur (thieves' :
properly 'a packer'); un ficard
(thieves') ; un amacq or arnnche
(thieves'); ttn vesto de la cuisine
(thieves' = a detective. Vesto
= haricot bean ; cuisine = de-
tective force) ; rabatteur de
f antes (thieves' = a beater of
game, man being the quarry) ;
un bigorneau (properly a peri-
winkle) ; un cognac (thieves') ;
un quart (pop: faire son quart
— to be on the watch) \ un radis
noir (common : also = a priest or
devil - dodger) ; un renifleiir
(thieves': remfler = to sniff) ;
mart Robin (thieves'); un
marchand or sollicetw de lacets
(thieves' : lacets = hand-cuffs) ;
laf>m ferre (a mounted police-
man) ; un liege (thieves').
GERMAN SYNONYMS. Blau-
kragen (Viennese thieves' : for an
armed policeman; literally 'a
blue collar,' in allusion to the
uniform) ; Blitzableiter (literally
' the lightning conductor') ;
Bosser-Isch (a play upon words
is involved in this term. It is
derived from the Hebrew bosar —
meat. Bosser - Isck signifies
literally 'meat-man,' i.e., a
butcher, Or translated into
literary German, Fleischmann.
In the first half of the last century
a certain Lieutenant Fleisch-
mann was especially zealous in
' persecuting ' the robber gangs
infesting the district between
Frankfurt and Darmstadt. Every
hunter of rogues and vagabonds
has since then been called a
Bosser - Isch or Fleischmann.
Hence its application to the
police) ; Greiferci (specially ap-
plied to the ' criminal ' police) ;
Copper.
181
Copperheads.
Hadatsch or Hatschier (Viennese
thieves') ; aie Herren (the police
force generally ; literally * the
gentlemen ') ; Husche, Huscher,
Husskiefel or Husskopf(p. mounted
policeman) ; lltis or lltisch
(thieves') ; Kapdon (from the
Hebrew kophad : literally ' to
draw together,' or intransitively
' to cat off ' ; applied to a clever
policeman) ; Karten (the police.
Cf., Garden = guards) ; Koberer
(the officer in charge of the re-
gulations over registered prosti-
tutes ; Koberer = 'fancy-man,' or
'protector'); Klisto (a mounted
policeman; from the Hano-
verian gyp^y glistd) ; Kreuzritter
(Viennese thieves' = a policeman
who is also a soldier ; more cor-
rectly, a police-soldier) ; Lailesch-
mir (a night policeman ; from
the Hebrew lailo, ' the night ') ;
Lateme (Viennese thieves') ; Le-
deizeug (a mounted policeman) ;
Mischpoche (a Hebrew word
signifying ' the family,' ' the
relations ' ; gang of robbers ; the
inmates of a prison ; the police
force taken as a whole) ; Polenk
or Polente (Hanoverian slang for
the police; possibly from the
GyP^y polontschero = 'the night-
watchman' or 'herdsman');
Poliquetsch (a term applied either
to the force or to a single
member) ; Quetsch (Cf., fore-
going) ; Schin (an abbreviation,
being the Hebrew letter £>, for
the turnkey of a prison, a police-
man, etc. ; ein plotter Schin, a
policeman who makes common
cause with a burglar ; miser Schin,
a policeman who is hated) ;
Spinatwtichter (soldiers' for a
police-soldier ; in allusion to the
green uniform) ; Spitz or Spitzl
(a vigilant policeman, from Spitz
= pointed, from which is de-
rived Spitz-bube, a thief) ; Teckel
(Hanoverian for foot-police) ;
Zaddik (from the Hebrew signify-
ing " the just ' or ' pious one ' ;
used sarcastically as a nickname
for the guardians of the right) ;
Zenserei (Viennese thieves' :
Zenserer — a police superin-
tendent. Apparently the modern
form of the old Sens, Sins, Sons,
Sims, or Simser, of which the
derivation is clearly to be found
in Zentox Cent, from the Centence
of the Prankish kings, who
divided the counties into Centence
and Decania for the purposes of
administration).
ITALIAN SYNONYMS. Falcon
de draghetti (literally ' a hawk
preying on schoolboys ') ; sbirre.
SPANISH SYNONYM. Abrazador
(m ; literally ' one who em-
braces' ; abrazar = to hug, or
clasp).
1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, or
Rogues Lexicon, p. 21. ' The knuck was
copped to rights, a skin full of honey was
found in his kick's poke by the COPPER
when he frisked him'; [i.e.] the pick-
pocket was arrested, and when searched by
the officer a purse was found in his
pantaloons pocket full of money.
1864. Manchester Courier, 13 June.
The professors of slang, however, having
coined the word, associate that with the
metal, and as they pass a policeman they
will, to annoy him, exhibit a copper coin,
which is equivalent to calling the officer
COPPER.
1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude,
ch. iii., p. 237. I daresay the COPPERS
quite expected us the next night, and
looked out for us. ... COPPERS, I
may inform the reader, is slang for police.
1889. Punch, 3 Aug., p. 49, col. 2.
Young 'Opkins took the reins, but soon in
slumber he was sunk — (Indignantly) When
a interfering COPPER ran us in for being
drunk !
COPPERHEADS, subs. (American).
— A nickname applied to differ-
ent sections of the American
nation: first to the Indian ; then
Coppertnan.
Copy of Countenance.
to the Dutch colonist (see Irving,
Knickerbocker] ; lastly, during
the Civil War, to certain North-
ern Democrats who sympathised
with the South. [Properly the
Trigonocephalus contortrix .~\
1864. WALT. WHITMAN, Diary, 10
April [in Century Mag., Oct., 1888].
Exciting times in Congress. The COPPER-
HEADS are getting furious, and want to
recognise the Southern Confederacy.
1872. Daily Telegraph, 29 Aug.
Should he [Mr. Greeley] be elected, he will
owe his victory to ... the COPPER-
HEAD ring of the Democratic party.
1881. W. D. HOWELI.S, Dr. Breeris
Practice, ch. ix. He lived to cast a dying
vote for General Jackson, and his son, the
first Dr. Mulbridge, survived to illustrate
the magnanimity of his fellow-townsmen
during the first year of the civil war, as a
tolerated COPPERHEAD.
1888. Daily Inter-Ocean, 2 March.
Gay was executed, I think, in November,
1862, at Indianapolis. He was ... a
virulent COPPERHEAD.
COPPERMAN, subs. (Australian
prison). — A policeman. Cf.,
COPPER.
COPPER-NOSE, subs. (old). — The
swollen, pimply nose of habitual
drunkards. A ' jolly ' or ' bottle '
nose ; in Fr., une bette-rave, i.e.^
a beetroot ; also un piton passe
a f encaustique. Cf., GROG-
BLOSSOM. For synonyms for the
nose generally, see CONK.
1822. SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel,
ch. x. ' The stoutest raven dared not
come within a yard of that COPPER NOSE.
COPPER'S NARK, subs, (thieves').
— A police spy ; one in the pay of
the police. [From COPPER (q.v.\
a policeman, + NARK, a spy ;
used as a verb NARK signifies to
watch or look after. ]
1879. THOS. SATCHELL, in Notes and
Queries, 5 S., xi., 406. COPPER'S NARK :
A police spy.
1887. W. E. HENLEY, Villon s Good
Night. Likewise you COPPERS' NARKS and
dubs What pinched me when upon the
1889. Answers, 20 July, p. 121, col. i.
He instructed me ... on no account
to appear to be anxious to pry into their
secrets, lest I should be mistaken for a
COPPER'S NARK, i.e., a person in the pay of
the police.
COPPERSTICK, subs, (venery). — The
penis. For synonyms, see CREAM-
STICK.
COPUS, subs. (Univ.). — A wine or
beer cup, which was commonly
imposed as a fine upon those who
talked Latin in hall or committed
other breaches of etiquette. Dr.
Johnson derives it from episcopus,
and if this be correct it is doubt-
less the same as BISHOP.
COPY OF COUNTENANCE, subs.phr.
(old). — A sham ; humbug ; pre-
tence.
1579. GOSSON, Apol. of the Schoole
of Abuse, p. 64 (Arber). They have eaten
bulbief, and threatned highly, too put
water in my woortes, whensoeuer they
catche me ; I hope it is but a COPPY OF
THEIR COUNTENANCE.
1607. DEKKER, Westward Ho, Act
ii., Sc. i. I shall love a puritan's face the
worse, whilst I live, for that COPY OF THY
COUNTENANCE.
1637. FLETCHER, Elder Brother,
V., i. Nor can I change my COPY, if I
purpose to be of your society.
1754. FIELDING, Jonathan Wild, bk.
III., ch. xiv. This, as he atterwards con-
fessed on his death-bed, i.e., in the court
at Tyburn, was only a COPY OF HIS COUN-
TENANCE ; for that he was at that time as
sincere and hearty in his opposition to Wild
as any of his companions.
1756. FOOTE, Englishman from
Paris, Act i. And if the application for
my advice is not a COPY OF YOUR COUNTE-
NANCE, a mask ; if you are obedient, I may
set you right.
Coral Branch.
183
Cork.
CORAL BRANCH, subs.phr. (venery).
— Thepents.
CORE, COREING, verb and verbal
subs. (old). — See quot.
1821. D. HAGGART, Life, Glossary,
p. 171. COREING : picking up small
articles in shops.
CORINTH, subs. (old). — A brothel.
For synonyms, see NAN NY- SHOP.
Cf., CORINTHIAN and CORIN-
THIANISM.
1609. SHAKSPEARE, Timon of 'Athens,
Act ii., Sc. 2. Would we could see you
at Corinth !
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
s.v.
1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, or
Rogue's Lexicon, s.v.
CORiNTHlAN,.r«fo.(old). — I. A rake;
a loose liver ; sometimes specifi-
cally, a fashionable whore.
Shakspeare has it, ' a lad of met-
tle,' but in another place he uses
CORINTH as above. In the slang
sense an allusion to the notoriety
of Corinth as a centre of prosti-
tution, i.e., the temple-city of
Aphrodite. KopivOiatvdai, = to
CORINTHIANISE was Greek slang.
Hence the proverb — Ow irarrog
avdpoc a'e K6pii/0ov iaO' 6 TrA.of>c :
and Horace, Epist. lib. I, xvii.,
36—
' Non cuivis homini contingit adire Co-
rinthum.'
Also used as an adjective, a
verbal form being TO CORIN-
THIANIZE. Cf., Shakspeare's use
of EPHESIANS in II. King Henry
IV., ii. 2. For synonyms, see
MOLROWER.
1598. SHAKSPEARE, / Henry IV.,
Act ii., Sc. 4. And tell me flatly I am no
proud Jack, like Falstaff; but a CORIN-
THIAN, a lad of mettle, a good boy.
b. 1608. d. 1674. MILTON, Apology for
Smect. And raps up, without pity, the'
sage and rheumatic old prelatess, with all
.heryoung CORINTHIAN laity.
1890. Daily Telegraph, 25 Feb., p. 4,
col. 7. Is it not curious that hotel pro-
prietors [at Monte Carlo] should counte-
nance, if not encourage, a Tom and Jerry
tone and a wild CORINTHIAN element, even
in well-conducted restaurants ?
1890. HENLEY AND STEVENSON,
Beau Austin, iii., i. I assure you, Aunt
Evelina, we are CORINTHIAN to the last
degree.
2. A dandy ; specifically ap-
plied in the early part of the
present century to a man of
fashion ; e.g., CORINTHIAN Tom,
in Pierce Egan's Life in London.
For synonyms, see DANDY.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
s.v.
1819. T. MOORE, Tom Crib's Me-
morial, p. 9. 'Twas diverting to see, as one
ogled around, How CORINTHIANS and
Commoners mixed on the ground.
1832. PIERCE EGAN, Book of Sports,
p. 210. ' I would be a CORINTHIAN to the
end of the chapter if I could — but the truth
is, I was not lucky enough to be born a
swell.'
1853. WH. MELVILLE, Digby Grand,
ch. iv. Where the hospitable 'Jem' re-
ceived his more aristocratic visitors, and to
whichj as CORINTHIANS, or ' swells,' we
were immediately admitted.
1854. THACKERAY, Leech's Pictures
in Quarterly Review, No. 191, Dec. COR-
INTHIAN, it appears, was the phrase ap-
pliecl to men of fashion and ton . . . they
were the brilliant predecessors of the
' swell ' of the present period.
CORINTHIANISM, subs, (old and
modern). — See CORINTHIAN, in
both senses of which, mutatis
mutandis, CORINTHIANISM is em-
ployed.
CORK, subs, (common). — i. A
bankrupt. For analogous terms,
see QUIZBY.
2. (Scotch). — The general
name in Glasgow and neigh-
bourhood for the head of an
establishment, e.g., of a. factory,
or the like.
Cork-brained.
184
Corn.
To DRAW A CORK, verbal phr.
(pugilistic). — To draw blood.
A variant is TO TAP ONE'S
CLARET.
1818. P. EGAN, Boxiana, vol. I., p.
136. Severa blows exchanged, but no
CORKS were DRAWN.
1819. THOS. MOORE, Tom Crib's
Mem. to Cong'., p. 25. . . . This being the
first Royal claret let flow, Since Tom took
the Holy Alliance in tow, The UNCORKING
produced much sensation about, As bets
had \>z.zn flush on the first painted snout.
1837. S. WARREN, Diary of a Late
Physician, ch.xii. Tap his claret cask —
DRAW HIS CORK !
CORK- BRAIN ED, adj. phr. (old). —
Light headed ; foolish.
CORKER, subs, (common). — i. That
which closes an argument, or
puts an end to a course of action ;
a SETTLER ; a FINISHER (q.v.} ;
specifically a lie. C/, WHOPPER.
2. Anything unusually large,
or of first-rate quality ; remark-
able in some respect or another ;
e.g., a heavy blow ; a monstrous
lie. — See WHOPPER.
1835. HALIBURTON, Clockmaker, i S,,
ch. xi<c. 'Then I lets him have it, right,
left, nght, jist three CO'-KERS, beginning
with the right hand, shifting to the left,
and then with the right hand ag'in.'
TO PLAY THE CORKER. — To
indulge in the uncommon ; to
exhibit exaggerated peculiarities
of demeanour ; specifically in
school and university slang to
make oneself objectionable to
one's fellows.
1882. F. ANSTEY, Vice Versa, ch.
vii. ' Why, you're sticking up for him
now ! ' said Tom . . . astonished at this
apparent change of front. ' If you choose
to come back and PLAY THE CORKER like
this, it's your look-out.'
CORKS, subs, (general). — i. A
butler. [An allusion to one of
the duties of the office.] C/.,
BURN-CRUST, a baker ; MASTER
OF THE MINT, a gardener;
CINDER-GARBLER, a maid-of-all-
work, etc.
2. (nautical). — Money. [A
facetious allusion to money as
the means of ' keeping afloat. ']
For synonyms, see ACTUAL and
GILT.
CORKSCREWING, verbal subs, (com
mon). — The straggling, spiral
walk of tipsiness.
CORKSCREWS, subs. pi. (general)
— Very stiff and foimal curls, once
called BOTTLE-SCREWS.
1890. Notes and Queries, 5 April.
BOTTLE-SCREWS —Dr. Murray has this
word in the N.E.D. as obsolete, meaning
COKK-SCREWS, as we now call them.
CORKY, adj. (colloquial). — Spright-
ly ; lively. [An allusion to the
buoyancy of a cork.] Shakspeare
uses it in King Lear, iii., 7.
Com., 'Bind fast his CORKY arms ';
but with him (1605) ^ =
' withered.'
CORN, suds. (American). — i. Food;
sustenance ; GRUB. [A figura-
tive usage of the legitimate
word.]
1870. Green Bay (Wis.) Gaz., Oct.
I therefore take thus to forewarn You not
to trust her with a straw, For I will never
pay her CORN Unless compelled to by the
law.
2. (American). — An abbre-
viated form of CORN-JUICE (q.v.),
i.e., whiskey.
1843. JOHN S. ROBB. 'The Standing
Candidate." 'Ef you war a babby, just
new born, "Twould do you good this juicy
CORN !
Corned.
185
Corner.
To ACKNOWLEDGE THE CORN,
phr. (American). — See ACKNOW-
LEDGE, and the following quote :
1846. ^New York Herald, 27 June.
The Evening Mirrot very naively comes
out and ACKNOWLEDGES THE CORN, admits
that a demand was made, etc.
CORNED, ppl. adj. (common). — i.
Drunk. [HoTTEN : 'possibly
from soaking or pickling oneself
like salt - beef. ' BARRERE :
* almost beyond doubt ... an
Americanism from CORN, a
very common name for whisky.'
Both are wrong ; the verb ' to
corn ' is a common provincialism
and Scotticism signifying ' to
be drunk.'] For synonyms, see
SCREWED.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
s.v.
1808. JAMIESON, Etymolog. Diet.
Scottish, Lang. The lads are weel CORNED.
1835. HALIBURTON, The Clock-
maker, p. 257 (ed. 1862). ' I was pretty
well CORNED thet arternoon, but still I
knew what I was about.'
2. (sailors').— Pleased.
CORNER, subs, (colloquial). — i.
— See verbal sense.
1884. HAWLEY SMART, From Post
to Fiuisk} p. 309. Mr. Bill Greyson
thought it much more likely that a
syndicate of bookmakers had plotted tp
make a good thing out of the horse by-
working him in the betting-market like any
other CORNER on the Stock Exchange.
2. (sporting). — Tattersall's
Subscription Rooms once situate
at the top of Grosvenor Place,
near Hyde Park Corner ; now re-
moved to Albert Gate, but still
known by the old nickname.
1848. W. M. THACKERAY, Book of
Snobs, ch. x. He is a regular attendant at
the CORNER, where he compiles a limited
but comfortable libretto.
1874. G. A. LAWRENCE, Hagarene,
ch. v. She heard how — without antici-
pating the stable commission, or making
any demonstration at the CORNER — the
cream of the long odds against the Pirate
had been skimmed.
3. (sporting). — Short for
Tattenham Comer, a crucial
point on the Derby course on
Epsom Downs.
4. (thieves'). — A share ; an
opportunity of ' standing in ' for
the proceeds of a robbery.
Verb (colloquial). — To get
control of a stock or commodity
and so monopolize the market;
applied to persons, to drive or
force into a position of difficulty
or surrender, e.g., in an argu-
ment. [Probably American, being
a simple extension of the legiti-
mate meaning of the word to
drive or force into a corner or
place from which there is no
means of escape.] French
equivalents are etre en fine
pegrene, and se mettre sur les fonts
de bapteme. Tailors speak of a
man as CORNERED who has
pawned work entrusted to him,
and cannot redeem it. Also
used as &ppl. adj.
1848. LOWELL, Fable for Critics,
p. 24. Such [books] as Crusoe might dip
in, altho' there are few so Outrageously
CORNERED by fate as poor Crusoe.
1851. HAWTHORNE, House of Seven
Gables, ch. v. A recluse, like Hepzibah,
usually displays remarkable frankness, and
at least temporary affability, on being
absolutely CORNERED, and brought to the
point of personal intercourse.
1883. Graphic, April 21, p. 406, col. 2.
Chief member of a ring which has
CORNERED colza oil thi> winter to such an
extent that the price has been very con-
siderably enhanced during the last few
months.
TO BE ROUND THE CORNER,
verbal phr. (common).— To get
round or ahead of one's fellows
Corner-Man.
1 86
Corporation.
by dishonest cuts, doublings,
twists, and turns. For synonyms,
see KNOWING.
TO TURN THE CORNER, phr.
(common). — To get over the
worst ; to begin to mend in
health or fortune.
To BE CORNERED, verbal phr.
(common). — To be in a 'fix.'
Fr., fore dans le lac.
CORNER-MAN or COVE, subs, (com-
mon).— I. A loafer; literally a
lounger at corners.
1851. H. MAYHEW, Lon. Lab, and
Lon. Poor, IV., 445. I mean by CORNER-
COVES them sort of men who is always a
standing at the corners of the streets and
chaffing respectable folks a-passing by !
1885. Chamb. Journal, Feb. 28, p.
136. Curley Bond was well known in the
district as a loafer and CORNER-MAN.
2. (music hall). — The ' Bones'
and ' Tambourine ' in a band of
negro minstrels.
CORN SN EGYPT, subs. phr. (collo-
quial).— Plenty of all kinds.
[Biblical]
CORNISH DUCK, subs, (trade). —
A pilchard. Cf., YARMOUTH
CAPON.
CORN -JuiCE, subs. (American). —
Whiskey. For synonyms, see
DRINKS.
1888. Detroit Free Press, May.
. . . Don't be for ever loafing whar the
CORN-JUICE flows.
CORNSTALK, subs. (Australian).—
Generic for persons of European
descent, but especially applied
to girls. The children 'of Anglo-
Australians are generally taller
and slighter in build than their
parents. Originally a native of
New South Wales ; now general.
Cf.j BANANALANDER.
1885. Chambers' Journal, March 21,
p. 191. The stockman — a young six-foot
CORNSTALK (or native of New South
Wales).
1887. G. L. APPERSON, in All the Year
Round, 30 July, p. 67, col. 2. A native of
New South Wales is known as a CORN-
STALK.
1888. Colonies and India, 14 Nov.
Auld Jamie Inglis has written 'anither
buik, ye ken ' ... for the delectation
of the youthful CORNSTALK'S mind.
CORNSTEALERS, subs. (American).
— The hands. For synonyms, see
BUNCH OF FIVES and DADDLE.
1835. HALIBURTON (' Sam Slick '),
The Clock maker. ' How is you been, my
old bullock ? ' and he squeezed his CORN-
STEALERS till the old gineral began to
dance like a bear on red-hot iron.
CORNY-FACED, adj. (old). — Red
and pimply with drink. [From
CORN, to render intoxicated, +
FACED.]
CORONER, subs, (common). — A
severe fall. [Literally a fall
likely to produce a coroner's
inquest. ]
CORPORAL, To MOUNT A CORPORAL
AND FOUR, verbal phr. (old). —
To practice masturbation. — See
FRIG.
CORPORATION, subs, (colloquial). —
A protuberant stomach. For
synonyms, see BREAD-BASKET
and VICTUALLING OFFICE.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue.
1849. C. BRONTE, Shirley, ch. xvi.
The former, looming large in full canoni-
cals, walking as became a beneficed priest,
under the canopy of a shovel hat, with the
dignity of an ample CORPORATION.
1887. W. P. FRITH, Autobiog., i., 49.
Very stout men .... each possessing
larger CORPORATIONS than are commonly
seen.
Corpse.
187
Costard.
CORPSE, subs, (sporting). — A horse
in the betting for market pur-
poses alone ; otherwise A
STIFF'UN. — See COCK, suds.,
sense 4.
Verb (theatrical).— I. To con-
fuse ; ' to queer ' ; to blunder
and so * put out ' one's fellows :
to spoil a scene. — See REGULAR
CORPSER.
1864. HOTTEN, Slang Diet., s.v.
1886. Graphic, April 10, p. 399. An
actor who forgets his words is said to
' stick,' or be ' CORPSED.'
1886. Cornhill Mag., Oct., p. 436.
He expressed a hope that Miss Tudor
' wouldn't CORPSE his business ' over the
forge-door again that evening.
2. (common). — To kill (liter-
ally to make a corpse of one).
A Fr. equivalent is parler sur
quelqitun. For synonyms, see
COOK ONE'S GOOSE.
1884. EDITOR of Notes and Queries
[in ' Answers to Correspondents ' (6 S. ,
ix., 120), says that]. 'To CORPSE ... is
one of many customary and coarse ways
of menacing the infliction of death. It is
horribly familiar in London.'
1887. W. E. HENLEY AND R. L.
STEVENSON, Deacon Brodie, Act 4.
MOORE. And is he thundering well
CORPSED? . . . Then damme, I don't
mind swinging.
CORPSE-PROVIDER,^/^, (common).
— A doctor or physician. For
synonyms, see CROCUS.
fo.^r. (Ameri-
can). — A mixed drink. — See
DRINKS.
1871. Birmingham Daily Post, 22
Dec. And our American refreshment bars,
In drinks of all descriptions cut a dash,
From CORPSE REVIVERS down to ' brandy
smash."
1883. Daily Telegraph, March 8,
p. 7, col. i. In winter the dash into the
open air or the standing for a few minutes
in a line of comrades will certainly enhance
the joys of the English equivalents for the
Yankee CORPSE REVIVER.
CORRECT or K'RECT CARD. — See
CARD.
CORROBOREE, subs. (Australian). —
A disturbance. [Properly a
tremendous native dance.]
Verb. — To boil. — See pre-
ceding.
CORSICAN, subs, (sporting). — Some-
thing out of the common ; a
' buster.' [A ' Burnandism.']
1889. Polytechnic Mag., 18 April,
p. 232, col. 2. This heat was a CORSICAN.
CORYBUNGUS, subs, (pugilistic). —
The posteriors. — See BLIND
CHEEKS, BUM, and MONOCULAR
EYE GLASS.
COSH, szibs. (popular and thieves').
— A • neddy ' ; a life-preserver ;
a short, loaded bludgeon. Also
a policeman's truncheon.
COSOUSE. — See COME SOUSE.
COSSACK, subs, (common). — A po-
liceman. For synonyms, see
BEAK and COPPER.
1886. Graphic, Jan. 30, p. 130, col.
i. A policeman is also called a ' COSSACK,'
a ' Philistine,' and a ' frog.'
COSTARD, subs. (old). — The head.
[Properly an apple.] For
synonyms, see CRUMPET.
1534. N. UDALL, Roister Doister,
III., v., p. 58 (Arber). I knocke youre
COSTARDE if ye offer to strike me.
1605. SHAKSPEARE, King Lear, Act
iv. Sc. 6. Edg. . . . Nay, come not near
th' old man ; keep out, che vor ye, or ise
try whether your COSTARD or my bat
be the harder.
1787. GROSE, Prov. Glossary, COS-
TARD, the head ; a kind of opprobrious
wordj used by way of contempt, probably
alluding to a costard apple.
Cotch.
1 88
Cotton To.
1817. SCOTT, Rob Roy, ch. xii. ' It's
hard I should get raps over the COSTARD.'
COTCH, verb (vulgar). — To catch.
[A corruption.] Also ppl. adj.,
COTCHED.
1889. Pall Mall Gaz., Oct. 12, p. 5,
col. 2. Taken before some French beak
whom he did not know, and an interpreter
brought, the COTCHED culprit was made to
pay 20 f.
COTS, subs. (Christ's Hospital). —
See quot. [A corruption of
'cotton.']
1810. CHARLES LAMB, Recollections
of Christ's Hospital [1835], p. 24. The
COTS, or superior Shoe Strings of the
Monitors.
COTSOLD or COTSWOLD LION, subs,
r. (old). — A sheep. Mentioned
Ray in his proverbs. For
synonyms, see WOOL-BIRD.
1615. HARINGTON, Epigrams, bk.
III., ep. 18. Lo then the mystery from
whence the name Of COTSOLD LYONS first
to England came.
COTTON -LORD or KING, subs, (com?
mon). — A wealthy cotton manu-
facturer.
1883. HAWLEY SMART, Hard Lines,
ch. xix. ' But, Mr. Fulsby [a Manchester
man], the country wilj never ... dp
away with the army because you COTTON
LOKDS consider it unnecessary.'
COTTONOPOLJS, subs, (general). —
Manchester. [In allusion to the
staple.] Cf., ALBERTO POLIS,
CUBITOPOLIS, HYGEIAPOLIS.
1884. Echo, May 12, p. 4, col. 2. For
the big race [Manchester Cup] at COT-
TONOPOLIS a fine lot are let in.
COTTONS, subs. (Stock Exchange).
— Confederate Bonds. [From
the staple pf the Southerp
States. ]
COTTON To, verb (common). — To
take a fancy to ; to unite with ;
to agree with. In the last sense
it is found occasionally in the
Elizabethan writers, and is
American by survival. [As re-
gards derivation, it comes from
the Welsh cytuno, to agree, to
consent. ]
Some French analogues
are : — Avoir un beguin pour
quelqrfun and avoir un pepin
pour une femme ; one who
COTTONS TO another is by
students called un colleur ; while
concubinage by sheer force of
habit is damned as le collage.
1582. STANYHURST, Virgil, p. 19
(Arber). If this geare GOTTEN, what
wight wyl yeelde to myn aulters Bright
honor and Saci ifice.
1605. Play of Stucley, I., 290. John
a Nokes and John a Style and I cannot
COTTON.
1837. B ARH AM, I. L . ( The Bagman's
Story), For when once Madam Fortune
deals out her hard raps, It's amazing to
think, How one COTTONS to drink !
1846. Punch, vol. II., p. 12. I agree
in the words of Mrs. Judy, who says,
' My dear, I hope one day to see Peel and
Cobden COTTON together.
1864. Derby Day, p. 152. 'You stop
here and COTTON UP TO the gipsies,'
exclaimed Charley Brickwood.
1880. OUIDA, Moths, ch. vii. ' Ride?
Ah ! That's a thing I don't COTTON TO
anyhow,' said Miss Fuschia Leach, who
had found that her talent did not lie that
way.
TO DIE WITH COTTON IN
ONE'S EARS, phr. (obsolete). —
See quots.
1821. P. EGAN, Tom and Jerry [ed
1890), p. 92. Many of the most hardened
and desperate offenders, from the kindness,
attention, and soothing conduct of the Rev.
Mr. Cotton [the chaplain at Newgate,
1821], who is indefatigable in administering
consolation to their troubled minds, have
become the most sincere penitents.
1864. Athenceum, 29 Oct., No. 1931.
Rev. of SI, Diet.' When a late chaplain
Cotton- Top.
189
Counter.
of Newgate [Rev. Mr. Cotton] used to
attend poor wretches to the scaffold, stand-
ing by their side to the last moment, they
were said to ' DIE WITH COTTON IN THEIR
EARS !' Let us add here, that Rowe in-
vented the phrase ' launched into eternity,1
to signify the simple but solemn matter of
hanging.
This was by no means the only
instance of a popular punning
allusion to the name of Cotton.
The Jesuit Father Coton, having
obtained a great ascendency
over Henri IV., it was remarked
by that monarch's subjects that,
unfortunately, ' HIS EARS WERE
STUFFED WITH COTTON.'
COTTON-TOP, subs, (obsolete). —
A woman loose in fact, but
keeping up some sort ot appear-
ance. [In allusion to cotton
stockings with silk feet. ]
COUCH A HOGSHEAD, verbal phr.
(old). — To lie down and sleep.
[CoucH, to lie down, was in
common use in Shakspeare's time
(Merry Wives of Windsor ^ v. , 2).
HOGSHEAD = the head*] — See,
however, quot., 1610, and for
synonyms, see BALMY.
1567. HARMAN, Caveat (1814), p. 66.
To COUCH A HOGSHEAD \ to ly downe and
slepe. Ibid; I COUCHED A HOGSHEAD in a
skypper this darkemans.
1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all,
p. 38 (H. Club's Repr., 1874). COWCH A
HOGSHEAD : to lie doune and sleepe ; this
phrase is like an Alminacke that is out of
date : now the duch word to slope is with
them vsed, to sleepe, and liggen, to lie
downe.
1671. R. HEAD, English Rogue, pt.
I., ch. iv., p. 37 (1874). The fumes of
drink had now ascended into their brain,
wherefore they COUCHT A HOGS-HEAD, and
went to sleep.
1706. E. COLES, Eng . Diet. , s.v.
1818. SCOTT, Heart of Midlothian,
ch. xxx. ' We'll COUCH A HOGSHEAD, and
so better had you. They retired to repose,
accordingly.
COUNCILLQR OF THE PlPOWDER
COURT, subs, (old).— A pettifog-
ging lawyer. [The Pipowder
Court was one held at fairs,
where justice was done to any in-
jured person before the dust of
the fair was off his feet ; the name
being derived from the French
pie poudre. Some, however, think
that it had its origin in pied-poul-
drtux, a pedlar, and signifies a
pedlars' court.
COUNCIL-OF-TEN, subs. phr. (com-
mon).— The toes of a man who
walks DUCK-FOOTED (q.v.\ Cf.,
TEN COMMANDMENTS. Ft.,
COUNSELLOR, subs. (Irish). — A bar-
rister. Fr. , un gerbier.
1889. Answers, 9 Feb. I referred
him to my solicitors, who very kindly lent
their services for nothing, giving the £3 he
had to the COUNSELLOR (thieves always
call barristers COUNSELLORS) employed.
COUNT, subs, (common). — A man of
fashion ; a swell. — ^quot., 1883,
and DANDY for synonyms.
1859. SALA, Twice Round the Clock,
6 p.m., par. 2Oi Tremendous COUNTS are
the clerks in the secretary's office, jaunty
bureaucrats, who ride upon park hacks,
and are ' come for ' by ringlets in broughams
at closing time.
1883. G. A. S[ALA], in ///. London
News, April 21, p. 379, col. 2. Fops
flourished before my time, but I can re-
member the 'dandy,' who was superseded
by the COUNT, the 'toff,' and other varie-
ties of the ' swell.
COUNTER, verb (pugilistic). — To
strike while parrying. Also used
as a verbal subs., COUNTERING.
Figuratively, to oppose ; to cir-
cumvent.
1853. C. BEDE, Verdant Green, pt.
I., p. 106. His kissing traps COUNTERED,
his ribs roasted.
Counterfeit- Cranke. 1 9°
County-Crop.
1857. O. W. HOLMES, Autocrat of
the Breakfast Table, ch. vii. He will
certainly knock the little man's head off, if
he strikes him. Feinting, dodging, stop-
ping, hitting, COUNTERING — little man's
head not off yet.
1871. Daily News, 17 April, p. 2,
col. 2. The Jockey Club met on Wed-
nesday last, when they COUNTERED the
Hunt Committee ... by refusing to
father the said ' wrangling stakes ' by a
majority of eleven to three.
1873. Consei vative, 1 5 Feb. If 'The
Druid ' is the prettier sparrer, ' The ^Edile '
must be admitted to have shown unex-
pected powers of COUNTERING, and has
stood up gamely to his bigger opponent.
ANOTHER LIE NAILED TO THE
COUNTER. — See ANOTHER.
COUNTERFEIT-CRANKE, subs. (old).
— Explained in quots. — Set
CRANKE.
1567. HARMAN, Caveat. These that
do COUNTERFET THE CRANKE be yong
knaves and yonge harlots, that deeply dis-
semble the falling sickness;
1621. BURTON, Anatomy of Melan-
choly, p. 159. A lawyer of Bruges hath
some notable examples of such COUNTER-
FEIT CRANKS. Ibid, 436. Thou art a
COUNTERFEIT CRANK; a cheater.
1622. FLETCHER, Beggars Bush, ii.,
i. And these, what name or title e'er they
bear, Jarkman, or Patrico, CRANKE, or
Clapper-dudgeon, Frater, or Abram-man,
I speak to all That stand in fair election for
the title Of king of beggars.
1671. R. HEAD, English Rogue, pt.
I., ch. v., p. 39 (1874),. s.v.
COUNTER-JUMPER (or SKIPPER),
subs, (common). — Adraper's assis-
tant ; a shopman. Fr. , chevalier
du metre. For synonyms, see
KNIGHT OF THE YARD. Also
COUNTER-JUMP = to act as a shop-
assistant, and COUNTER-JUMPING,
verbal subs.
1855. C. KINGSLEY, Westward Ho.
' Why,' said he, stifling his anger, ' it
seems free enough to every COUNTER-
JUMPER in the town.'
1860. Guide to Eton, p. 236. They
are like the young COUNTER-JUMPER, men-
tioned by Dickens, on the outside of a
coach, who lighted a great many cigars,
and threw them away when he thought no
one was looking.
1863. C. READE, Hard Cash, II.,
189. Mamma, dear, you open that gigan-
tic wardrobe of yours, and I'll oil my hair,
whitewash my mug (a little moan from Mrs.
D.), and do the COUNTER-JUMPING business
to the life.
1864. G. A. SALA, in Temple Bar,
Dec., p. 40. He is as dextrous as a
Regent Street COUNTER-JUMPER in the
questionable art of ' shaving the ladies.'
1876. M. E. BRADDON, Joshua
Haggard, ch. viii. I don't want my son
and heir to keep company with COUNTER
JUMPERS.
GOUNT-NOSES, verbal phr. (parlia-
mentary).— To count the 'Ayes'
and ' ft oes. ' [A punning allusion
to the latter.] Generally, to take
the sense of any assembly.
COUNTRY, subs, (cricket). — That
part of the ground at a great dis-
tance from the wicket ; thus, a
fielder at * deep - long - off,' or
* long-on ' is said ' to be in the
COUNTRY,' and a ball hit to the
far boundary is 'hit into the
COUNTRY.'
COUNTRY- PUT, subs. (old). — An
ignorant, country fellow. For
synonyms, see JOSKIN.
1717. MRS. CENTLIVRE, Bold Stroke
for a Wife, Act iv., Sc. 2. Col. F.
Enough. Now for the COUNTRY-PUT.
COUNTY- CROP, subs, (general). —
The hair cut close to the skull ;
a mode once common to all
prisoners, but now to convicts
only. Also PRISON-CROP. [An
abbreviation of COUNTY-PRISON
CROP.] Used likewise adjectively.
1867. JAS. GREENWOOD, Unsent.
Joiirneys, xxv., 199. A slangy, low-
Couple-beggar.
191
Cove.
browed, bull-necked, COUNTY -CROPPED
. . . crew.
COUPLE- ( also BUCKLE-) BEGGAR,
subs, (old). — A celebrant ot irreg-
ular marriages — as the Chaplain
of the Fleet; a hedge priest. A
Spanish colloquialism for such a
marriage is bodijo.
1737. SWIFT, Proposal for Badges to
the Beggars. Nay, their happiness is often
deferred until they find credit to borrow, or
cunning to steal, a shilling to pay their
popish priest, or infamous COUPLE-BEGGAR.
1842. LEVER, Handy Andy, ch. xxix.
This was a degraded clergyman, known in
Ireland under the title of COUPLE-BEGGAR,
who was ready to perform irregular
marriages on such urgent occasions as the
present.
COUPLE OF SHAKES. — See BRACE
OF SHAKES.
COUPLING-HOUSE, suds. (old). — A
brothel. [From COUPLING, the
act of copulating, -T-HOU^E.] For
synonyms, see NANNY-SHOP.
COURANNE. — See CAROON;
r#fo. (old). — A beau,
For synonyms; see
swell.'
DANDY.
COURT HOLY WATER or COURT
PROMiSES,.rafo./>£r. (old). — Fair
speeches without performance.
COUSIN BETTY, subs, (colloquial): —
A half- willed person. For syno-
nyms, see BUFFLE and CABBAGE-
HEAD.
I860. MRS. GASKELL, Sylvia's
Lozters, ch. xiv. I dunnot think there's
a man living — or dead for that matter —
as can say Foster's wrong him of a penny,
or gave short measure to a child or a
COUSIN BETTY.
COUSIN TRUMPS, subs. (old). — One
of a kind : brother smut ; brother
chip.
1825. English Spy, p. 255. Most
noMe cracks, and worthy COUSIN-TRUMPS,
etc.
COUTER or COOTER, subs, (com-
mon).— A sovereign. For syno-
nyms, see CANARY, sense 3.
HALF A COUTER = half-a-sove-
reign.
1857. SNOWDEN, Mag. Assistant (3
ed.), p. 444, s.v.
1877. Five Years Penal Servitude,
ch. iii., p. 243. ' A foulcher, with flimsies
and COUTERS for a score of quid in it.'
1880. JAMES PAYN, A Confidential
Agent, I., 207. ' Well, tie gave us half a
COUTER at all events,' pleaded John in
mitigation.
COVE, COVEY, COFE, CUFFING,
and, in the feminine, COVESS,
subs, (general). — I. A person;
a companion. [Some derive
COVE from the Gypsy cova^ covo
— that man, com — that woman ;
Cova, says Pott (quoted in
Annandale), has a far wider
application than the Latin res ;
there is no expression more fre-
quent in a gypsy's mouth. Oihers
connect it with the north country
coofi a lout or dolt.] COVE enters
into many combinations : e.g.,
CROSS -COVE = a robber.
FLASH-COVE = a thief of
swindler.
KINCHIN-COVE = a little man.
FLOGGING-COVE = a beadle.
SMACKING-COVE = a coachman.
NARRY-COVE = a drunkard.
TOPPING-COVE = a highway-
man.
ABRAM-COVE = a beggar.
QUEER-COVE = a rogue.
NUBBING-COVE = the hangman.
GENTRY-COVE = a gentleman.
DOWNY-COVE = shrewd man.
RUM-COVE = a doubtful
character.
NIB-COVE = a gentleman,
etc., etc., etc., all which see.
Cove.
192
Cove.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Boy ;
chap ; cull ; cully ; customer ;
kidoy ; homo or omee ; fish ; put ;
bloke ; gloak ; party ; cuss ;
codger ; butfer ; gaffer ; dam her ;
duck ; chip.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Bete &
pain (popular : literally a bread-
eater ; also a man who ' keeps '
a woman) ; un bonhomme (fami-
liar) ; un type (prostitutes' = a
dupe) ; un gonce, gonse or gonze,
and une gonzesse (thieves') ; un
goncier (thieves') ; un gonsale
(thieves'); ungadouille ; un mere
or niert ; un pante (thieves' :
from pantm> a puppet); un mastic
(thieves': properly cement or
putty) ; tine mazette (military);
une mecque (thieves'); un mar-
quant (thieves' : especially applied
to bullies or Sunday-men) ; un
marpaut or marp'au (old cant);
un lander (thieves') ; un lascar
(thieves') ; un messier or
messiere (thieves': from meziere,
a fool) ; un orgtte (thieves') ; un
gas (thieves' ) ; un gosselin (popu-
lar = Eng. covey ; une fignole
gosseline = a 'natty piece'); un
gniasse (thieves') ; un loncegtie
(thieves').
GERMAN SYNONYMS. Baal
(perhaps one of the most compre-
hensive terms in the Gauner-
sprache, and signifying not only a
'cove' [i.e. , an individual], but
also a master, husband, possessor,
artist, expert, artisan — in fact,
one owning or capable of any-
thing. Combinations are Balbajis,
Balbos [fern. Balboste, Balboeste\
= master of the house ; Baldower
= a principal or leader of a gang,
an adviser, the creater of oppor-
tunities, the spy ; Baleze, Baleize
= an adviser, also a chief of
police ; Balhoche [from Baal and
hocho (there)], prostitutes' = ' one
in possession ' but removeable ;
Balhoche (thieved) = one with an
opportunity of theft ; Balhei is
merely the abbreviation of Baal-
he or hei ; Balmassematten [masso
uinattan\ the business man, the
leader of a gang ; Balmelocho,
the artisan ; Balmelochestift, ihe
artisan's apprentice ; Balplete,
Balpleite, the runaway ; Balscho-
chad, any orhcial who takes bribes;
Batspiess = a common lodging-
house ; Balm, Balmach, Bal-
machan, Palm, Palmer, Pal mac kt
Pallmack, Pallmagen = 2i soldier ;
the Hanov. has Palemachome
[Palemachen, Pallemacher\ ; Bal-
versckmai = an inquisitor or
judge) ; Brooker (Hanoverian =
one in trousers, from the .North
German Broek or Bracca, trou-
sers) ; Gatscho (from the Gypsy
gaxo} ; Isch (from the Hebrew
isch.}.
1567. HARM AN, Caveat. COFE : a
person.
1609. DEKKER, Lanthome and
Candlelight, in wks. (Grosart) III., 196.
The word COVE, or COFE, or CUFFIN,
signifies a Man, a Fellow, etc.
1654. WITTS, Recreations. As priest
of the game, And prelate of the same,
There's a gentry COVE here.
1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4 ed.),
P. 12, S.V.
1837. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, ch. x.
' Do you see that old COVE at the book-
stall ? '
^1849. C. KINGSLEY, Alton Locke,
ch. ii. : [a misquotation of a far older song.]
' The ministers talk a great deal about
port, And they makes Cape wine very
dear, But blow their hi's if ever they tries,
To deprive a poor COVE of his beer.'
1871. Figaro, 15 April. We need
hardly say that the COVE in question is not
a man.
[For examples of the use of
COVEY and COVESS, see same.]
Coven t- Ga rden .
193
Cover.
2. (Up-country Australian). —
The master, ' boss,' or 'gaffer '
of a sheep station.
COVE OF DOSSING-REN, subs,
phr. (thieves'). — The landlord of
a common lodging-house. FrtJ
marchand de sonuneil.
COVENT-GARDEN, subs, (rhyming
slang). — A ' farden ' or farthing.
COVENT-GARDEN ABBESS, subs.
(old). — A procuress. [Covent
Garden at one time teemec with
brothels : as Fielding's Covent
Garden Tragedy (1751-2) sug-
gests. Cf., BANK SIDE j. A DIES
and BARNWELL AGUE.] — See Coj
VENT-GARDEN AGUE and ABBESS.
For synonyms, see Mo i HER.
COVENT-GARDEN AGUE, subs. phr.
(old). — A venereal disease. [ \n
allusion to brothels in ihe neigh-
bourhood m question.] CV., BANK-
SIDE LADIES. For synonyms, see
L\DIES' FEVER.
COVENT-GARDEN NUN, subs. phr.
(old).— A prostitute.— \See CO-
VENT-GARDEN AGUE and NUN.]
COVENTRY. To SEND ONE TO, or
TO BE IN COVENTRY, verbal phr.
(colloquial). — To exclude from
social intercourse, or notice ; to
be in disgrace. [Variously but
indecisively ex plained: — (i) From
Coventry Gaol, as a place of im-
prisonment for Royalists during
the Parliamentary war. (2) From
the fact that ia Coventry, as
elsewhere, the privilege of trading
was anciently confined to cer-
tain privileged persons. (3) As
a corruption of PUT or SENT
INTO QUARANTINE, the transi-
tion from ' Coventry ' formerly
pronounced and written Cointrie
— ('his breech of Cointrie blewe.'
DRAYTON'S Dowsabdl \ 1593)
— being easy and natural, in
whi h connection, see quot., 1821.
The expression appears first in
Grose, but ' Quarantine ' used
analogically is found in Swift.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1821. CROKER, in Croker Papers,
vol. I., p. 203. I found MacMahon IN A
KIND OF COVENTRY, and was warned not
to continue my acquaintance with him.
1838. LYTTOV, Alice, bk. IV., ch.
iii. ' If any one dares to buy it, we'll SEND
HIM TO COVENTRY.'
1869. SPENCER, Study of Sociology,
ch. x., p. 244(9 ed.). The skilful artizan,
who in a given period can do more than
his fellows, but who dares not do it because
he would be SENT TO COVENTRY by them.
1872. Post, 21 June. Another re-
presentation on behalf of Lieutenant
Tribe, of the gth Lancers, now for some
months past IN COVENTRY, will be made
in the coarse of a few days to the Minister
for War and to his Royal Highness
Commanding-in-Chief.
COVER, subs, (thieves'): — A pick-
pocket's confederate : one who
'fronts,' i.e., distracts the atten-
tion of, the victim ; a STALL
(q.v.).
Verb (thieves'). — i. To act as
a pickpocket's confederate.
1858. Glasgow Gazette, 13 Nov. 'A
Sensitive Thief.' I saw Merritt lift up the
tail of a gentleman's coat and thrust his
hand into the pocket. . . . Jordan and
O'Brien were COVERING Merritt while so
acting. I knew them all to be regular
thieves.
2. (American). — To drink.
For synonyms, see LUSH.
3. (venery). — To 'have' or
'possess' a woman. [Properly
used of a stallion and a mare.]
1653. URQUHART, Translation of
Rabelais. Madam, it would be a very great
benefit to the commonwealth, delightful to
you, honourable to your progeny, and
necessary for me, that I COVER you for the
propagating of my race.
13
Cover-arse Goi
on.
194
Coward's- Castle.
COVER-ARSE GOWN, subs. phr.
(Univ., obsolete). — A gown with-
out sleeves.
1803. Gradus ad Cantabrigiam, s.v.
COVER- DOWN, subs, (thieves'). — An
obsolete term lor a false tossing
coin. — See CAP.
COVER-ME-DECENTLY, verbal phr.
(old). — A coat. For synonyms,
See CAPELLA.
1821. MONCRIEFF, Tom and Jerry,
p. 5. (Dicks' ed., 1889.) Tom. This,
what do you call it?— this COVER-ME-
DECENTLY, was all very well at Hawthorn
Hall, I daresay.
Co v ESS, subs. (old). — A woman. —
See COVE.
1789. GEO. PARKER, Life's Painter',
p. 144. He was well acquainted with the
COVE and COVESS.
1827. SIR E. B. LYTTON, Pelkam,
p. 310 (ed. 1864). Ah, Bess my COVESS,.
strike me blind if my sees don't tout your
bingo muns in spite of the darkmans.
, subs, (common). — A man j
a dirriinutive of COVE (q.v.).
1821. W. T. MONCRIEFF, Tom and
Jerry, Act iii., Sc. 3. Tom. Well
there's a flimsy for you ; serve the change
out in max to the COVIES.
. 1837. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, ch.
viii. Upon this, the boy crossed over ;
and, walking close up to Oliver, said,
' Hullo, my COVEY ! what's the row ? '
1854. AYTOUN AND MAR-TIN, The
Bon Gaultier Ballads. ' The Laureate's
Tourney.' ' Undo the helmet ! cut the
lace ! pour water on his head ! ' 'It ain'£
no use at all, my lord; 'cos vy? the COVEY'S
dead.'
1876. C. HINDLEY, Life and Ad-ven-
tures of a Cheap Jack, p. 19. Ah ! Ah !
you half-starved, hungry, ugly-looking
COVEY, why, if they had you in the
country where I came from they'd boil you
down for the pigs.
Cow, subs. (old). — i. A woman.
The term is now opprobrious ;
but in its primary and natural
sense the usage is ancient.
Ho well [1659] says: 'There are
some proverbs that carry a kind
of authority with them, as that
which began in Henne the
Fourth's time. " He that bulls
the cow must keep the calf.'"
For synonyms, see PETTICOAT.
2. (general). — A prostitute.
[By analogy from sense I.] Fr.,
une vache. For synonyms, see
BARRACK-HACK and TART.
3. (sporting). — A thousand
pounds. Other slang terms for
sums of rrioney are :—
PONY = £25.
CENTURY = £100.
MONKEY = £500.
PLUM = £100,000.
MARIGOLD = ;£ 1,000,000;
but for complete list, see MON-
KEY.
1870. Athenaum, 10 Sept. ' Liver-
pool.' All over Lancashire a horse is
called a cow, which everywhere else
where slang prevails is a cant termi for
a thousand pounds.
Td TALK THE HIND LEG OFF
A cow or DUG. — See TALK.
TTJNE THE cow DIED OF. —
See TUNE.
COWAN, subs: (common). — A sneak
or prying individual. Among
masons the uninitiate in general.
COW-AND-CALF, verb (rhyming
slang).— To laugh.
COWARD'S-CASTLE or CORNER,
subs, phr: (popular). — A pulpit.
[Because a clergyman may deliver
himself therefrom without fear of
contradiction or argument.] For
synonyms, see HUM- BOX.
1883. Notes and Queries, 6 S., viii.,
p. 147. COWARD'S CASTLE .... An
epithet .... in use not inaptly for a
Cowcumber.
J95 Cow with the Iron Tail.
pulpit. Ibid, p. 238. I have often heard
the pulpit called the COWARD'S CASTLE,
it being said to be ' six feet above argu-
Co we UMBER, subs, (vulgar). — A
corruption of ' cucumber.'
1821. W. T. MONCRIEFF, Tom and
Jerry, Act iii., Sc. 3. Bob. Very veil,
two pound, vith a pickled COWCUMBER,
and a pcn'orth o' ketchup.
1843. DICKENS, Martin Chuzzlewit,
ch. xxv. In ca-e there should be such a
thing as a COWCUMBER in the house will
you be so kind as bring it, for I'm rayther
partial to 'em m> self, and they does a
world of good in a sick room.
Cow- (also BUSHEL- and SLUICE-)*
CUNTED, adj. phr. (vencry); —
A term of opprobium applied to
women deformed by parturition
or debauchery.
COW-GREASE or COW-OIL, subs\
(common). — Butter. For syno-
nyms, see CART-GREASE.
Cow-JuiCE, subs, (popular). — Milk.
Cf., BUNG-JUJCE and COW-
GREASE. For synonyms, see
SKY-BLUE.
Cow- LICK, subs, (common). — A
peculiar lock of hair, greased,
curled, brought forward from
the ear, and plastered on the
cheek. Once common amongst
costermongers and tramps. For
synonyms, see AGGERAWATORS.
Cow- OIL. — See COW-GREASE.
COW-PUNCHER, subs. (American);
— A cowboy or herdsman.
1888. Detroit Free Press, 21 July.
He was a cowboy, or, in Western parlance,
a COW-PUNCHER.
COW-QUAKE, subs. (Irish). — The
roar of a bull.
Cows- AND- KISSES, subs, (rhyming
slang). — The ' missus,' or mis-
tress ; also women generally.
1887. HORSLEY, Jottings from Jail.
Come, COWS-AND-KISSES, put the battle of
the Nile on your Barnet fair, and a rogue
and villain in your sky-rocket.
COW'S-BABY or BABE, subs, (com-
mon).—A calf. In Old Cant
BLEATING-CHEAT (q.V.). For
synonyms, see MOOER ; Cf., Cow-
JUICK and COW'S-SPOUSE. Also
a poltroon ; Fr., tin fouinard, uti
fouetteux dt chats, un fouailleur,
tmfoie, vnfleniard or Jlaquadin,
or unfrileux.
1785. GRC)SE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
Cow- SHOOTER, subs. (Winchester
College). — A 'deerstalker' hat:
only worn by proefects and
'candle-keepers.'
COW'S-SPOUSE, subs, (old).— A
bull.— Grose [1785],
Cow WITH THE IRON TAIL, subs-,,
phr. (general). — A pump; the
source of the ' cooling medium '
for ' regulating ' milk. Thus, Dr.
Wendell Holmes, in The Profes-
sor at the Breakfast Table (1860) :
— It is a common saying of a
jockey that he is all horse, and 1
have often fancied that milkmen
get a stiff upright carriage, and
an angular movement that re-
minds one of a pump and the
working of a handle. Also
BLACK-COW ; ONE-ARMED MAN ;
and SIMPSON'S cow (q.v.).
18^57. Punch. The Rinderpest does
not affect the cow WITH THE IRON TAIL.
1872. Standard, 25 Dec. Simpson
... is, however, universally accepted as
the title for that combined product of the
Cow natural, and the cow WITH THE IRON
TAIL.
Coxy.
196
Crabs.
1876, Once a Week, 23 August.
Every drop of milk brought into Paris is
tested at the barriers by the lactometer, to
see if the IRON TAILED cow has been
guilty of diluting it ; if so, the whole of it
is remorselessly thrown into the gutter —
the Paris milk is very pure in consequence.
COXY, adj. (public schools'). —
Stuck up ; conceited ; impudent.
1856. HUGHES, Tom Browns School-
days, p. 202. He's the COXIEST young
blackguard in the house— I always told you
so. Ibid, p. 214. ' Confoundly COXY those
young rascals will get if we don't mind,'
was the general feeling.
1882. f . ANSTEY, Vice Versa, ch. iv.
' Now then young Bultitude, you used to
be a decent fellow enough last term,
though you were COXY. So, before we go
any further — what do you meani by this
sort of thing ? '
COYDUCK, verb (old).— To decoy.
[An ingenious blend of conduct
and decoy.'}
1829. A Laconic Narrative of the
Life and Death of James Wilson. That
awful monster, William Burke. Like Reynard
sneaking on the.lurk, CoYDycKED his prey
into his den And then the woeful work
began.
COYOTE, subs, (old).— The female
pudendtim. For synonyms, see
MONOSYLLABLE.
COZZA, subs, (cheap Jacks').— See
quot.
1876. HINDLEY, Life and Adven-
tures of a Cheap j 'ack, p. 28. Mo . . .
declared he would never eat another bit of
COZZA, i.e., pork, as long as he lived.
CRAB, subs, (auction). — The same
as BONNET (q,v.), subs., sense i.
Verb (thieves'). — To expose ;
to inform ; to offend or insult ;
and especially to interrupt, to
get in the way of, to spoil.
[Properly to render harsh, sour, or
peevish ; to make crabbed. ] Also
used adjectively. For synonyms,
see PEACH and RILE, respec-
tively.
1825. The English Spy, vol. I., p.
179. LIVERYMAN, EGLANTINE. What
coming CRABB over us, old fellow ? Very
well, I shall bolt and try Randall, and
that's all about it.
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 232. If a
patterer has been CRABBED, that is offended
at any of the ' cribs ' (houses), he mostly
chalks a signal on or near the door. Ibid,
vol. II., p. 568. 'We don't CRAB one
another when we are sweeping ; if we was
to CRAB one another, we'd get to fighting
and giving slaps of the jaw to one another.'
1876. HINDLEY, Life and Adven-
tures of a Cheap Jack, pp. 5-6. Others.
however, would be what we termed
CRABBED.
1880. MU-LIKIN, Punch's Almanack.
CRAB your enemies, — I've got a many,
You can pot 'em proper for a penny.
TO CATCH A CRAB ; also TO
CUT A CRAB ; TO CATCH or
CUT A CANCER or LOBSTER,
verbal phr. (common). — There
are various ways of CATCHING A
CRAB, as, for example, (i) to turn
the blade of the oar or ' feather '
under water at the. end of the
stroke, and thus be unable to re-
cover ; (2) to lose control of the
oar at the middle of the stroke by
' digging ' too deeply ; or (3) to
miss the water altogether.
CRAB LOUSE, subs. (old). — The
pulex pubis, the male whereof is
called a cock, the female a hen. —
Grose
CRABS, subs, (thieves'). — I. The
feet. [A punning comparison of
the feet and ten toes to the ten-
footed, short-tailed crustaceans
popularly known as ' crabs.'] For
synonyms, see CREEPERS. In
Haggart (.to? Glossary, i82i)cRABS
= shoes.
Crabs/ieli's.
197
Crack.
2. (old). — Lice. For syno-
nyms, see CHATES, sense 2.
3. (gaming). — A pair of aces,
or deuce-ace — the lowest throw
at hazard.
1768. LORD CARLISLE, in Jesse's
Sehvyn, II., 238 (-1882). 1 hope you have
left off hazard. If you are still so foolish,
and will play, the best thing 1 can wish
you is, that you may win and never throw
CRABS.
1837. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends
(Hard Times), p. 4, ed. 1851. Well, we
know in these cases Your CRABS and
'Deuce Aces' Are wont to promote
frequent changes of places.
1874. G. A. LAWRENCE, Hagarene,
ch. Hi. ' My annuity drops with me ; and
if this throw comes off CRABS, there won't
be enough to bury me, unless I die a
defaulter.'
TO TURN OUT CRABS Or A CASE
OF CRABS, verbal phr. (common).
— A matter TURNS OUT CRABS
when it is brought to a disagree-
able conclusion. [Cf., CRAB,
verb, in the sense of to interrupt ;
to get in the way of ; to spoil.]
CRABSHELLS, subs, (popular), —
Shoes. [From CRABS, subs., sense
I (q.v. ), + SHELLS, an outer cover-
ing.] For synonyms, see TROTTER-
CASES.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
s.v.
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor,\o\. IIJ., p. 210, 'Now
these 'ere shoes,' he said . .' . 'even
now, with a little mending, they'll make a
tidy pair of CRAB-SHELLS again.'
1889. Answers, July 20, p. 121, col. 2.
The state of my CRABSHELLS, or boots,
pointed to the fact that I had come down
in the world.
CRACK, subs. (old). — A crazy per-
son, or soft-head. [From CRACK
= to impair, or to be impaired.]
For synonyms, see BUFFLE and
CABBAGE-HEAD.
1609. DEKKER, Lanthorne and Can-
dlelight, in wks. (Grosart) III., 212. A
Foyst nor a Nip shall not walke into a
Fayre or a Play-house, but euerie CRACKE
will cry looke to your purses.
b. 1672, d. 1719. ADDISON (quoted in
Annandale). I cannot get the Parliament
to listen to me, who look upon me as a
CRACK.
2. (old). — A prostitute, see
sense 4. For synonyms, see BAR-
RACK-HACK and TART.
1698. FARQUHAR, Love and a Bottle,
Act v., Sc. 3. You imagine I have got
your whore, cousin, your CRACK.
1705-7. WARD, Hudibras Redivi-vus,
vol. II., pt. II., p. 27. Old Leachers,
Harridans, and CRACKS.
1715. VANBRUGH, Country House,
II., v. For you must know my sister was
with me, and it seems he took her for -a
CRACK, and I being a forward boy he
fancied I was going to make love to her
under a hedge, ha, ha.
1748. T. DYCE, Dictionary (5 ed.),
s.v.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vul. Tongue, s.v.
181 1. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
3. (old). — A lie. Cf.. CRACKER
(the modern form), and for syno-
nyms, see WHOPPER'.
1773. GOLDSMITH, She Stoops to
Conquer, Act ii. Miss N. There's some-
thing generous in my cousin's manner.
He falls out before faces to be forgiven in
private. Tony. That's a damned con-
founded CRACK.
4. (venery). — The female
pudendum. For synonyms, see
MONOSYLLABLE.
5. (thieves').— A burglary. Cf.y
CRACK A CRIB, and for synonyms,
see PANNV. [The term originated
about the beginning of the
present century. Fr. , une fraction.]
1834. W. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood
p. 120 (ed. 1864). We'll overhaul the swag
here, when the speak is spoken, oven
This CRACK may make us all for life.
Crack.
198
Crack.
1837. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, p. 124.
The CRACK failed, said Toby, faintly.
1841. G. W. REYNOLDS, Pick-wick
Abroad, ch. xxvi. But should the traps
be on the sly, For a change we'll have a
CRACK.
1841. LEMAN REDE, Sixteen-String
Jack, Act i.. Sc. 5. Come on, then ! A
sweet ride of a dozen miles, just to cool
one's head, then for the CRACK ; and then
back to London.
1889. Answers, 13 April, p. 313.
Such inscriptions as ' Poor Joe from the
Dials in for a CRACK,' meaning 'Poor Joe
from Seven Dials in for a burglary,' are
numerous.
6. (thieves'). — A burglar.
[See sense 5, and cf., C RACKS-
MAN.]
1749. Life of Bamffylde - Moore
Carew. Sufler none, from far or near,
With their rights to interfere ; No strange
Abram, ruffler CRACK.
1857. Punch, 31 Jan. (from slang
song). That long over Newgit their Wor-
ships may rule, As the Hi^h-toby, mob,
CRACK, and screeve model school.
7. (colloquial). — An approach
to perfection. Cf., sense 8.
1825. English Spy, p. 255. Most
noble CRACKS and worthy cousin trumps,
permit me to introduce a brother of the
togati.
1864. Glasgow Herald, 5 April. ' Re-
port of R. N. Y. Club.' This vessel (one
of Fyfe's CRACKS) being almost new, and
coppered, will be free from the objection-
able fouling which is so great a drawback
to the use of iron yachts.
1H71. London Figaro, 17 Oct. Does
it mean that the CRACK is a thing of the
past, and that the learned author is no
longer to be considered as a CRACK?
1889. Answers, March 23, p. 265,
col. 3. Warders are not, thank goodness,
first-rate shots, but even a CRACK would
find it difficult to hit a man's head appear-
ing for only a moment or two in probably a
heavy fog.
8. (turf).— A racehorse emi-
nent for speed. Hunting : a
famous * mount.' [An extension
of the usage in sense 7.]
1853. Diogenes II., 271. ' The Bet-
ting Boy's Lament.' Cesarewitch, Cam-
bridgeshire now No longer for me have a
charm ; the CRACKS may be ranged in a
row, But for me they've no fear nor alarm.
1864. Derby Day, p. 38. Sir Bridges
Sinclair would not scratch a horse— no, not
if it was ever so, let alone a Derby CRACK.
1871. Standard, 6 Nov. Unlimited
gossip as to the welfare and chances of
forthcoming CRACKS.
1883. The Echo, Feb. 7, p. 3, col. 6.
I give below a few of the probable starters
for the Waterloo Cup, including all the
CRACKS.
1884. HAWLEY SMART, From Post
to Finish, p. 155. Of course he was au
courant with all the rumours concerning
the Panton Lodge CRACK.
9. (vagrants'). — Dry firewood.
185] -61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and L on. Poor, vol. I., p. 358. The next
process is to look for some CRACK (some
dry wood to light a fire).
Adj. (colloquial). — Approach-
ing perfection ; used in a multi-
tude or combinations. A CRACK
hand is an adept or ' dabster ' ; a
CRACK corps, a brilliant regi-
ment ; a CRACK whip, a good
coachman ; etc. As a connect-
ing link between the adjective
and the earlier use of CRACK,
cf., THE CRACK.
1836. W. H. SMITH, The Individual,
13 Nov. 'The Thieves' Chaunt.' Her
duds are bob — she's a kinchin CRACK, and
I hopes as how she'll never back.
1839. THACKERAY, Fatal Boots
(July). And such a CRACK-shot myself,
that fellows were shy of insulting me.
1859. WHITTY, Political Portraits,
p. 106. But he [the Earl of Shaftesbury]
has insisted on a recognition of the facts
of our appalling civilisation, and that was
a good deal to do, which none other than
a Peer and CRACK Christian could hope to
do. Ibid, p. 288. The whippers-in will
never receive instructions t> find the ad-
dresses of the brilliances of Union debating
clubs, bar messes, and CRACK newspapers.
1865. M. E. BRADDON, Henry
Dunbar, ch. xx. Who was moreover a
CRACK shot, a reckless cross-country-going
rider, and a very tolerable amateur artist.
Crack.
199
Crack.
Verb (old).— i. To talk to;
to boast. [The verb was once
good English, and in the sense
of to talk or gossip is still good
Scots. The modern lorm xq
CRACK-UP, is well within the
borderland between literary and
colloquial English. The follow-
ing quots., together .with those
under CRACK-UP, form an un-
broken series].
1597. G. HARVEY, Trimming of
Nashe, in wks. (Grosart) III., 31. So you
may CRACKE yourselfe abroad, and get to
be reported the man you are not.
1621. BURTON, Aitat of Mel., I.,
II., III., xiv., 199, (1876). Your very
tradesmen, if they be excellent, will CRACK
and brag, and show their folly in excess.
1654. WITTS, Recreations. And let
them that CRACK In the praises of sack,
Know malt is of mickle might.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
s.v.
2. (thieves'). — To force open ;
to commit a burglary. [A
shorter form of CRACK A CRIB
(f.*).J
1837. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, ch.
xix. The crib's barred up at night like a
jail ; but there's one part we can CRACK,
safe and softly.
3. (American thieves'). — To
forge or utter worthless paper.
[An extension by analogy of ' to
crack,' i.e., 'to force,' and
4 cracksman,' a burglar.]
4. (colloquial).— To fall to
ruin ; to be impaired. Cf.,
subs., sense I.
b. 1631. d. 1701. DRYDEN [quoted in
Annandale]. The credit of the exchequer
CRACKS when little comes in and much goes
out.
5. (thieves'). — To inform ;
to PEACH (q.v. for synonyms).
c. 1850, but date uncertain. Broadside
Ballad, ' Bates' Farm.' I mean to CRACK
a crib to-night, but pals don't CRACK on
me.
TO CRACK A BOTTLE or A
QUART, verbal phr. (colloquial).
— To drink. Analogous and
equally old is ' to crush a cup.'
Fr., ewuffer une negresse or un
eivfant de chceur. For synonyms,
see Uusii.
1598. SH^KSPEARE, //. Henry IV.,
v., 3, 66. ' Shal. By the mass, you'll
CRACK A O.UART together.
1711. Spectator No. 234. He hems
after him in the public street, and they
must CRACK A HOT FLE at the next tavern.
1750. FIELDING, Tom Jones, bk.
VIII., ch. vii. 'What,' says the wife,
' you have been tippling with the gentle-
man ! I see.' 'Yes/ answered the hus-
band, 'we have CRACKED A BOTTLE
together.'
1817. SCOTT, Rob Roy, ch.viii. 'You
have CRACKED MY SILVER- MOUNTED
COCOA-NUT OF SACK, and tell me that you
cannot sing ! '
1853. THACKERAY, Barty Lyndon,
ch. xvii., p. 221. I chose to invite the
landlords of the ' Bell ' and the ' Lion ' to
CRACK A BOTTLE with me.'
TO CRACK A CRIB, SWAG, OjT
KEN, verbal phr. (thieves'^.— To
commit a burglary ; to break
into a house. [From CRACK, to
force open, + CRIB, a house.]
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. To
stamp a ken or crib; to work a
panny ; to jump a Chouse (also
applied to simple robbery with-
out burglary) ; to do a crack ; to
practice the black art ; to screw ;
to bust a crib ; to flimp ; to buz ;
to tool ; to wire ; to do a ken-
crack-lay.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Faire
up cassement de forte (thieves') ;
faire une condition (thieves') ;
faire copeaux (ihieves' : in allu-
sion to the splinters from a
forced door) ; ecornerune boutanche
or un boucard (thieves') = to
enter shops
un vol a
,U-r u, yiiiitwo j "— \.\J
burglariously) ; faire
Vesquinte (thieves') ;
Crack.
200
Crack.
maquiller une cambriole (thieves' :
maquiller = to do, to 'fake ' — an
almost universal verb of action) ;
faire fiic-frac ; net foyer tin
bocart (thieves').
GERMAN SYNONYMS. Auf-
nollen (to * bnrgle ' with skeleton
keys) ; aufplatzen (literally ' to
wrench ' or ' break open ') ; auf-
schrdnken ( schrdnken- [ from
Schranke, O. H. G. screnckan,
M. H. G. schranne, sckrange,
schrand~\ = a burglary with
violence. Schrdnker = burglar.
Up to the middle of the present
century burglars used to be called
Schrdnker a zierlicher ; Schrdnk-
massematten = a burglary with
violence ; Schrankzeug, Schrdnk-
schaure, Schrdnkschurrich =
burglars' tools ) ; blaupfeifen
( Viennese thieves' ) ; Cassne
handeln or melochenen (to commit
burglary with open violence) ;
einen Massematten handeln
(Massematten is a word whose
Hebraic components very nearly
correspond to the English
' debit and credit ' ; it signifies
commerce and activity—of the
kind that pertains to cracksman-
ship ; e.g.) einen Massematten
baldowern, to makean opportunity
for theft ; einen Massematten
stehen haben, to have ' dead-
lurked ' a crib, or prepared a
burglary ; Massema'ten bekoach
a burglary with violence.)
1830. BULWER \smQK, Paul Clifford,
p. 297, ed. 1854. And you 'members as
how I met Harry aod you — there, and I
vas all afeard at you— cause vy? I had
never seen you afore and ve vas a going to
CRACK a swell's CRIB.
1841. LEMAN REDE, Sixteen-String
Jack, Act i., Sc. 5. Jer. Now comes the
grand .spec ; we go to CRACK A KEN ; Kit's
in. so's the captain. Steady's the word ;
I go first, you all follow.
1871. Standard, 26 Dec. If their
pals outside, the gentry who hocus Jack
ashore in the east, pick the pockets of
Lord Dundreary in the west, and CRACK
CRIBS in the lonely outskirts could only
realise how miserable the Christmas-day
was for them, we might look out for a
needful retrenchment in the estimates of
penal expenditure.
1871. Morning Advertiser, TI May.
'Leader.' He took to burglary, employ-
ing professional burglars to assist him,
whenever it became necessary to CRACK A
CRIB.
1887. W. E. HENLEY, Villon's
Straight Tip. Dead-lurk a crib, or do a
CRACK.
TO CRACK A JUDY (or HER
TEA cnp), verb. phr. (common).
— To deflower a maid.
TO CRACK A CRUST, phr.
(common). — To rub along in the
world. A superlative for doing very
well is, TO CRACK A TIDY CRUST.
1851-61. H. MAYKEW, Lon. Lab.
and Lon. Poo*-, vol. 111., p. 445. I am
now just managing to CRACK AN HONEST
CRUST ; and while I can do that I will
never thieve mote.
To CRACK A KEN, verb. phr.
(thieves'). —To commit aburgla»y;
to CRACK A CRJB (q.V.). — [See
CRACK, verb, sense 2 and KEN.]
To CRACK A WHTD, verb. phr.
(thieves'). — To talk. [WniD
\q.v.} =a word i Old Cant.] Cf.,
CUT, verb, sense I. For syno-
nyms, see PATTER.
1876. HINDLEY, Life and Act-ventures
of a Cheap Jack, p; 22. The WHIDS as
the words or set phrases used by Cheap
Johns in disposing of their articles are
called are very much alike . . . many
little circumstances occur when they (the
WHIUS) are being CRACKED which are lost
to a reader.
To CRACK ON, verb. phr. (com-
mon).— To 'put on speed'; in-
crease one's pace.
1835. HALIBURTON, Clockniaker,
i S., ch. xi. ' I sh >t a wild goose at R ver
Philip last year, with ihe rice of Varginny
fresh in his crop ; he must have CRACKED
ON near about as fast as them other geese,
the British travellers,'
Cracked.
201
Cracker.
1876. Broadside Ballad [quoted in
C. G. Leland's Captain Jonas]. We
carried away the royal yards, and the
stuns'le boom was gone. Says the skipper,
' they may go or stand, I'm darned if I
don't CRACK ON.
To CRACK UP, verbal phr. (col-
loquial).— To praise ; eulogize.
A superlative is TO CRACK UP TO
THE NINES. Fr., faire r article^
(commercial travellers') and
faire son boniment or son petit
boniment (cheap jacks' and show-
men's).
1843. DICKENS, Martin Chuzzle-wit.
Ch. . . . We must be CRACKED UP,
said Mr. Chollop, darkly.
1856. HUGHES, Tom Brown's School-
days, p. 139. Then don't object to my
CRACKING UP the old school house, kugby.
1878. JAS. PAYN, By Proxy, ch. i.
' We find them CRACKING UP the country
they belong to, no matter how absurd may
be the boast.'
THE CRACK, or ALL THE
CRACK, .phr. (general). — The GO
(q v. ) ; ' the thing ' ; the ' kick ' ;
the general craze of the
moment.
IN A CRACK, phr. (colloquial).
— Instantaneously ", in the twink-
ling of an eye. For synonyms,
see BEDPQVT.
1725. RAMSAY, Gentle Shepherd,
Act i. I trow, when that she saw, WITHIN
A CRACK, She came with a right thieveless
errand back.
1763. FOOTE, Mayor of Garret t,
Act i. Nic Goose, the taylor, from
Putney, they say, will be here IN A CRACK.
1819. BYROV, Don Juan, ch. i., st.
135. ' They're on the stair just now, and
IN A CRACK will all be here.'
1842. Punch, vol. III., p. 136. IN A
CRACK the youth and maiden To a flowery
bank did come.
CRACKED or CRACKED-UP,///. adj.
phr. (colloquial). — i. Ruined ;
'bust up ' ; f gone to smash ' or to
'pot.' For synonyms, see DEAD
BROKE.
1851. H. MAYHEW, Lon. Lab. and
Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 2 [also pp, 24, 47].
If a Catholic coster,— there's only a very
few of them — is CRACKED up (penniless)
he's often started again, and the others
have a notion that it'* through some chapel
fund. Ibid, p. 22. ' If we're CRACKED
UP, that is, if we're forced to go into the
Union."
1870. Britannia, June. ' Speculation
in 1870.' Of these there only remain now
122 companies, with a capital of a hundred
and eighty millions, the rest having one
and all CRACKED UP, as the Americans
would say.
2. (common). — Crazy. For
synonyms, see APARTMENTS and
TILE LOOSE.
1872. Daily Telegraph, 3 Sept.
' Police Court Report.' Mr. Bushby : Is
her head affe;ted ? The Prisoner : Am I
CRACKED? Of course — in the nut. You'll
be to-morrow.
3. (common). — Deflowered.
Also CRACKED IN THE RING.
CRACKER, subs, (common). — Any-
thing approaching perfection.
Used in both a good and bad
sense ; e.g., a rattling pace, a
large sum of money, a bad fall,
an enormous lie, a dandy (male
or female) of the first magnitude,
and so forth. [C/., CRACK, stibs. ;
senses 3 and 7, adj., and verb,
sense i.]
1861. WHYTE MELVILLE, Good for
Nothing, ch. vi. 'I remember . . .
Belphegor's year. What a CRACKER I
stood to win on him and the Rejected ! '
1863. C. READE, Hard Cask, I., 28.
You know the University was in a manner
beaten, and he took the blame. He never
cried ; that was a CRACKER of those
fellows.
1869. Daily News, Nov. 8. 'Leader.'
Now he's gone a CRACKER over head and
ears.
1871. Daily News, Nov. i. 'Prince
of Wales' Visit to Scarborough.' The
shooting party, mounting their forest
ponies, came up the straight a CRACKER.
Lord Carrington finishing a good first.
Crackey.
202
Crack-Rope.
1883. Graphic, March 24, p, 303,
col. i. He [the Oxford stroke] could also
depend on his own men for not falling to
pieces through being taken off at a
CRACKEY. — See CRIKEY.
CRACK-HALTER, or CRACK-ROPE,
subs. (old). — A vagabond ; an old
equivalent of JAIL-BIRD. C/.,
HEMP-SEED.
1566. GASCOIGNE, Supposes, i., 4.
You CRACKHALTER, if I catch you by the
ears, I'll make you answer directly.
1607. DEKKER, Northward Hoe, IV.,
i. Featherstone's boy, like an honest
CRACK-HALTER, laid open all to one of my
prentices.
1639. MASSINGER, Unnatural Com-
bat, II., ii. Peace, you CRACK-ROPE !
1818. SCOTT, Heart of Midlothian,
ch. xxx. ' Hark ye, ye CRACK - ROPE
padder, born -beggar, and hedge - thief,'
replied the hag.
CRACK-HUNTER, or HAUNTER, subs.
(venery). — The penis. C/., CRACK,
subs. , sense 4. For synonyms, see
CBEAMSTICK.
CRACKING, verbal subs, (thieves'). —
House-breaking. [From CRACK,
verb, sense 2.]
1862. Cornhill Mag., vol. VI., 651.
We are going a-flimping, buzzing, CRACK-
ING, tooling, etc.
CRACKISH, adj. (old). — Wanton,
said only of women. [From
CRACK, subs., sense 4.] C/.,
COMING.
CRACK-JAW WORDS, NAMES, etc.,
subs, (colloquial). — Long words
difficult to pronounce. [From
CRACK, to break, +JAW, speech.]
Variants are HALF - CROWN
WORDS, JAW - BREAKERS, and
CRAMP WORDS.
1876. M. E. BRADDON, Joshua
Haggard's Daughter, ch. vii. ' He brings
her plants with CRACKJAW NAMES.',
1883. Daily Telegraph, June 25,
p. 3, col . i. ' Some of the ways with the
CRACK-JAW NAMES of cooking it would
give it a foreign flavour to me.'
CRACKLE or CRACKLING, subs.
(University). — The velvet bars
on the gowns of the Johnian
' HOGS ' (y.v.). [From their re-
semblance to the scored rind
on roast pork.] The covered
bridge between one of the courts
and the grounds of John's is
called the Isthmus of Suez (Latin
sus, a swine).
1885. CUTHBERT BEDE, in Notes and
Queries. 6 S., xi., 414. The word
CRACKLE refers to the velvet bars on the
students' gowns.
CRACKMANS or CRAGMANS, subs.
(old).— A hedge.
1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all,
p. 57 (H. Club's Repr., 1874), s.v.
1671. R. HEAD, English Rogue, pt.
I., ch. v., p. 48 (1874), s.v.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue.
The cull thought to have loped, by break-
ing through the CRACKMANS, but we
fetched him back by a nope.
CRACK or BREAK ONE'S EGG, or
DUCK, verbal phr. (cricket). — To
begin to score. [To make no run
is to 'lay, or make, a duck's egg' ;
to make none in either innings
is ' to get a double-duck,' or to
come off with a pair of spectacles.]
1890. Polytechnic Magazine, 5 June,
p. 367, col. 2. Watson bowled splendidly,
taking 8 wickets at a very small cost, two
of his foemen being unable to CRACK THEIR
EGG.
CRACK-POT, subs, (popular). — A
pretentious, worthless person.
For synonyms, see SwASH-BucK-
LER.
1883. Broadside Ballad, ' I'm Living
with Mother now.' My aunty knew lots,
and called them CRACK-POTS.
CRACK-ROPE. — ^CRACK-HALTER.
Cracksman.
203
Cram.
CRACKSMAN, subs, (popular). — I. A
housebreaker. [From CRACK,
•verb, sense 2, + MAN ; literally
one who CRACKS or forces his
way into a house.] For syno-
nyms, see THIEVES.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. The
kiddy is a clever CRACKSMAN.
1830. LYTTON, Paul Clifford, p. 298,
ed. 1854. I have no idea of a gentleman
turning CRACKSMAN.
1837. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, p. 123.
You'll be a fine young CRACKSMAN afore
the old file now.
1837. BARHAM, /. L. (Lay of St.
Aloys). Your CRACKSMAN, for instance,
thinks night-time the best To break open a
door or the lid of a chest.
1839. AINSWORTH, Jack Sheppard
(1889), p. 70. I'll turn CRACKSMAN, like
my father.
1889. Pall Mall Gaz., 21 Nov., p. 6,
col i. The latest dodge among CRACKS-
MEN is to personate an ejectric- light man.
2. (common). — The penis.
— See CRACK, sw&s., sense 4.
CRADLE, ALTAR, AND TOMB
COLUMN, subs, phr, (American).
— The births, marriages, and
deaths column in newspaper. An
English equivalent is HATCH,
MATCH, AND DISPATCH COLUMN.
CRAG.— See SCRAG.
CRAM, subs, (popular). — I. A lie;
oftentimes CRAMMER. [The idea
is that of stuffing with nonsense.]
For synonyms, see WHOPPER.
1842. Punch, vol. II., p. 21, col. 2.
It soundeth somewhat like a CRAM : but
our honour is at stake, apd we repeat the
'mile.'
1864. LE FANU, Uncle Silas, ch.
xxxviii. ' It is awful, an old un like that
elling such CRAMS as she do ! '
1864. Quiver, 4 June. By some de-
licate distinction the falsehood presented
itself under the guise of a CRAM, and not of
a naked lie.
1887. W. E. HENLEY, Villon s Good
Night. You magsmen bold that work the
CRAM.
2. (colloquial). — Hard, forced
study. Resulting rather in a test
of memory than of capacity.
1872. Morning Post, Oct. 15. Poor
Toots, the head boy of Dr. Blimber's
academy . . . bloomed early and had by
CRAM been enabled to answer any given
set of questions, and to work any papers at
an ' exam.'
1872. Daily Telegraph, July 25.
1 Speech Day at King's College School.'
Dr. Madear also said a few words on the
advantage of boys going up straight from
school to college without any interval of
CRAM.
1878. JAS. PAYN, By Proxy, ch. xii.
They have gained their position by CRAM
of jhe philosophic kind.
3. (colloquial). — One who pre-
pares another for an examination ;
a coach ; a 'grindstone.'
1861. DUTTON COOK, Paul Fosters
Daughter, ch. ix. 'I shall go to a coach,
a CRAM, a grindstone.'
4. (University). — An adven-
titious aid to study ; a translation ;
a ' crib.' For synonyms, see
PONY.
1853. REV. E. BRADLEY [' C. Bede '),
Verdant Green, pt. II., p. 68. The in-
fatuated Mr. Bouncer madly persisted
.... in going into the school clad in his
examination coat, and padded over with a
host of CRAMS.
Verb (colloquial). — I . To study
at high pressure for an examina-
tion. Also to prepare one for
examination. Cf., DIG and COACH.
1803. Gradus ad Cantabrigiam, s.v.
1825-27. HONE, Every-day Book, Feb.
22. Shutting my room door, as if I was
'sported in' and CRAMMING Euc
1836. DICKENS, Pickwick, chap, li.,
p. 446. ' He CRAMMED for it, to use a
technical but expressive term ; he read
up for the subject, at my desire, in the
Rncyclopcfdia Britannica.^
Crammer.
204
Cramp- Rings.
1844. Puck, p. 13. Though for Great
Go and for Small, i teach Paley, CRAM
and all.
1872. BESANT AND RICE, My Little
Girl. The writer of one crushing article
CRAMMED for it, like Mr. Pott's young
man.
2. (general). — To lie ; to de-
ceive. [Literally to stuff with
nonsense.] For synonyms, see
STICK.
1794. Gent. Mag., p. 1085. Luckily,
1 CRAMMED him so well, that at last honest
Jollux tipped me the cole [money].
1822. SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel, ch.
xviii. A thousand ridiculous tales. . ,
with some specimens of which our friend
Richie Moniplies had been CRAMMED . . .
by the malicious apprentice.
CRAMMER, subs, (general), i. A
liar ; one who tells CRAMS (q.v.).
[From CRAM (M a lie, + ER.]
2. (common). — A lie ; the same
as CRAM, sense I.
1861. H. C. PENNELL, Puck on
Pegasus, p. 17. I sucked in the obvious
CRAMMER kindly as my mother's milk.
1880. A. TROLLOPE, The Duke's Child-
ren, ch. xxxviii. ' What on earth made
you tell him CRAMMERS like that?' asked
Silverbridge.
c. 1884. Broadside Ballad, ' On Mon-
day I Met Mary Ann.' I thought t'would
last for ever and I never should be sold,
Because I was so clever in the CRAMMERS
that I told.
3. (general). — One who pre-
pares men for examination ; a
coach, or GRINDER (^.z>.,for syno-
nyms).
1812. Miss EDGEWORTH, Patronage,
ch. Hi. Put him into the hands of a clever
grinder or CRAMMER, and they would soon
cram the necessary portion of Latin and
Greek into him.
1872. Evening Standard, 16 Aug.
' The Competition Wallah.' The CRAMMER
follows in the wake of competitive exam-
inations as surely as does the shadow the
body.
CRAMMING, verbal subs, (common).
— The act of studying hard for an
examination. [From CRAM (q.v.^
sense 2) + ING.] American,
BONING.
1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 201, col. i.
Aspirants to honours in law, physic, or
divinity, each know the value of private
CKAMMING.
1863. CHARLES READE, Hard Cash,
I., p. 16. 'All this term 1 have been
(' training ' scratched out and another
word put in : c — roh, I know) CRAMMING.'
' CRAMMING, love ? ' ' Yes, that is Oxford -
ish for studying.'
1869. SPENCER, Study of Sociology,
ch. xv., p. 574 (9 ed.). And here, by
higher culture, I do not mean mere lan-
guage-learning, and an extension of the de-
testable CRAMMING system at present in
use.
1872. Daily News, Dec. 20. Com-
petitive examinations for the public service
defeated in a great measure, the object of
their promoters, which was to place rich and
poor on an equality, because success was
made to depend very largely on successful
CRAMMING, which meant a high-priced
crammer.
CRAMPED or CRAPPED, ppl. adj.
(old). — Hanged ; also killed. For
synonyms, see LADDER.
CRAM PING-CULL, subs. (old). — The
hangman. [From the CRAMPING
of the rope, +CULI,, a man.] Cf.,
CRAMP RINGS (q.V.).
CRAMP IN THE HAND, subs. phr.
(common). — Meanness ; stingi-
ness.
CRAMP-RINGS, subs. (old). — Bolts;
shackles ; fetters. [ Properly a
ring of gold or silver, which after
being blessed by the sovereign,
was held a specific for cramp and
falling-sickness.] For synonyms,
see DARBIES.
1609. DEKKER, Lanthome and
Candlelight fed. Grosart, III., 203].
Straight we're to the Cuffin Queer forced
to bing ; And 'cause we are poor made to
scour the CRAMP-RING.
Cramp- Words. 205
1671. HEAD AND KIRKMAN, The
English Rogue, 'Canting Song.' Till
CRAMPRINGS quire, tip Cove his Hire, And
Quire-ken do them catch.
1706. E. COLES, Eng. Diet., s.v.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
Cranky.
CRAMP- WORDS, subs. (old). — i.
Hard, unpronounceable vocables;
CRACKJAW WORDS (q.V. ).
1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5 ed.).
CRAMP WORDS (s.) : hard, difficult, un-
usual or uncommon words.
1779. MRS. COWLEY, Who's the
Dupe ? II., ii. I've been in the Diction-
ary this half-hour, and have picked up
CRAMP WORDS enough to puzzle and de-
light the old gentleman the remainder of
his life.
1812. COOMBE, Tour in S. of Pictur-
esque, C. xxv. Who get CRAMP WORDS,
and cant the Muse In Magazines and in
Reviews.
2 (thieves'). : — Sentence of
death. [A figurative usage of
sense I.]
1748. DYCHE, Diet., 5 ed. CRAMP-
WORDS (s),, . . also in the canting dia-
lect the sentence of death pass'd by the
judge upon a criminal.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue.
He has just undergone the CRAMP-WORD.
CRAN BERRY-EYE, subs. (American).
A blood-shot eye resulting from
alcoholism.
CRANK, subs. (old). — i. Some-
times CRANKE. — See quots; and
COUNTERFEIT CRANK;
1567. HARMAN, Caveat (1814), p. 33.
These that do counterfet the CRANKE be
yong knaues and yonge harlots, that
deeply dissemble the falling sicknes. . For
the CRANK in their language is the fallinge
evill.
1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all,
p. 38 (H. Club's Repr., 1874). CRANCKE,
the falling sickenesse : and thereupon your
Rogues that counterfeit the falling
sickenes, are called counterfeit CRANCKS.
2. (old). — Gin and water; —
17853.
3. (American). — An eccentric,
a crotcheteer. [From the col-
loquial CRANKY (q.V.) = {\A\ Of
crotchets ; crazy.] Cf. , COUNTER-
FEIT CRANK.
1886. Florida Times Union, 22 May.
.
I know perfectly well that I shall probably
be called an old fogy, if not a CRANK, for
presuming to think that anything in the
past can be better than in the present.
1887. New York Tribune, 4 Nov. A
good deal of ridicule, mostly good-
natured, is showered upon the base-ball
CRANK, as everybody persists in calling
the man or woman who manifests any deep
interest in the great American game.
1888. Daily Inter -Ocean, 2 Feb.
The man was evidently a CRANK, and said
that 4,000 dollars were due him by the
Government.
Adj. (nautical). — Easily upset:
e.g., 'the skiff is very CRANK.'
CRANK-CUFFIN, subs. (old). — One
of the canting-crew whose speci-
alty was to feign sickness. [From
CRANK (q.v., sense i), the 'fall-
ing - sickness,' + CUFFIN (see
COVE), a man.]
1749. BAMPFYLDE MOORE -CAKEW,
Oath of the Canting Crew. I, CRANK-
CUFFIN, swear to be True to this
fraternity.
CRANKY, adj. (colloquial).— Crotch-
etty ; whimsical ; ricketty ; not
to be depended upon ; crazy.
[C/., quot., 1787.]
ENGLISH S,YNQNYMS. Dicky;
maggotty ; dead-alive ; yappy ;
touched ; chumpish ; comical ;
dotty ; rocketty ; queer ; faddy ;
fadmongeririg ; twisted ; funny.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Chevrotin
(popular : applied to a bad or
irritable temper); etre comme un
ctin (popular) ; avoir sa chique
(familiar : said of the temper).
1787. GROSE, Prov. Glossary.
CRANKY, ailing, sickly ; from the Dutch
crank, sick.
Cranny.
206 Crashing-Ckeats.
1840. DICKENS, Old Curiosity Shop,
ch. vii., p. 33. Adding to this retort an
observation to the effect that his friend
appeared to be rather CRANKY in point of
temper.-
1863. C. READE, Hard Cash, II.,
113. He had repeatedly been called into
cases of mania described as sudden, and
almost invariably found the patient had
been CRANKY for years.
1873. MRS. EDWARDS, A Vagabond
Heroine, in Temple Bar, June. ' On
goes the CRANKY carriage, on goes the
swearing driver and the high souled
Burke.'
1874. MRS. H. WOOD, Johnny Lud-
l<nv, i S., No. III., p. 42. 'What's the
matter now?" asked Mrs. Hall, in her
CRANKY way.
CRANNY, subs, (venery). — The
female pudendum. For syno-
nyms, see MONOSYLLABLE.
i (venery), —
The penis. For synonyms; see
CREAMSTICK.
CRAP, subs, (old); — 1. Money ;
sometimes CROP1. For synonyms,
see ACTUAL and GILT.
1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5 ed.);
s.v.
1787. GROSE, Prov. Glossary and
Diet. Vulg. Tongue [1785]. CRAP ... In
the north it is sometimes used for money.
2. (old). — The gallows. For
synonyms, see NUBBING CHEAT.
1830. BULWERLYTTONi/^/C/Z^W,
p. 255 (ed. 1854). ' Ah ! ' said Long Ned,
with a sigh, 'that is all very well, Mr.
Nabbem ; but I'll go to the CRAP like a
gentleman.'
1834. HARRISON AINSWORTH; Rook-
ivootf. And what if, at length, boys, he
comes to the CRAP Even rack punch has
some bitter in it.
3. (printers'). — Type that has
got mixed ; technically known as
' pi.' [Here compared to excre-
ment.]
) trs. and intrs. (old). — I.
To hang ; to be CRAPPED = to be
hanged.
2. (common). —To ease one-
self by evacuation. For syno-
nyms, see BURY A QUAKER and
MRS. JONES.
CRAPPED,///.^', (old). — Ranged.
[From CRAP (q.v., subs., sense 2),
+ ED.] — See CROPPED.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue.
CRAPPING CASA, CASE, CASTLE or
KEN, subs, (common). — A water-
closet. [From CRAP, verb, sense
2 (q.v.), to ease oneself, + ING +
CASA or KEN, a house.] For
synonyms, see BURY A QUAKER
and MRS. JONES.
CRAPPING-CASTLE, subs, (hospital).
— A night-stool.
CRASH, subs. (old). — I. Entertain-
ment. Probably a cant word. —
Nares.
2. (theatrical). — The machine
used to suggest the roar of
thunder ; a noise of desperate
(and unseen) conflict ; an effect
of * alarums, excursions ' generally.
Verb (old).— To kill. For
synonyms, see COOK ONE'S
GOOSE.
CRASHING - CHEATS or CHETES,
subs. (old). — i. The teeth. [From
CRASH, to break to pieces.
+ ING + CHEAT, a thing, from
A.S. ceat.~\ For synonyms, see
GRINDERS.
1567. HARMAN, Caveat (\Zi^), p. 64,
s.v.
1671. R. HEAD, English Rogue, pt.
I., ch. v., p. 48 (1874), s.v.
1706. E. COLES, Eng. Diet., s v.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
s.v.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
Crater.
207
Cream.
2. (old). — See quots.
1567. HARMAN, Caveat (1814), p. 66.
CRASHING CHETES : appels, peares, or any
other fruit.
1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all,
p. 37 (H. Club's Repr., 1874), CRASHING
CHEATES : apples.
CRATER, CRATUR, or CREATURE,
subs, (old).— Formerly, any kind
of liquor, but now, Irish whiskey.
[Fuller speaks of water as ' a
CREATURE so common and need-
ful,' and Bacon describes light as
' God's first CREATURE.' Transi-
tion is easy.] THE SKIN OF THE
CREATURE = the bottle. For
synonyms, see DRINKS.
1598. SHAKSPEARE, 77. King: Henry
IV., it. 2. My appetite was not princely
got ; for, by my troth, I do now remember
the poor CREATURE, small beer:
1663. HOWARD,. The Committee, Act
iv. Mrs. Day. Oh fie updn't ! who
would have believ'd that we should have
liv'd to have seen Obadiah overcome with
the CREATURE.
1683. S.B. Anacreon done into Eng-
lish out of the original Greek. Oxford.
There goes a very pleasant Story of him,
that once having took a Cup too much of
CREATURE, he came staggering homewards
through the Market Place, etc;
1772. GRAVES, Spiritual Quixote, \>\i.
VII., ch. ii. You will never be able to
hold out as Mr. Whitfield does. He seerris
to like a bit of the good CRETUR as well
as other folks.
1816. SCOTT, Old Mortality, I., p.
... I do most humbly request. . . that
. . . thou wilt take off this measure, called
by the profane a gill, of the comfortable
CREATURE, which the carrial do denominate
brandy.
1836. M. SCOTT, Tom Cringle's Log,
ch. xiv. He produced two bottles of
brandy ... so we passed the CREATURE;
round, and tried all we could to while away
the tedious night.
1812. Punch, vol. II., p.^. And
reaching home refresh myself with a ' ker-
vartern of the CRATUR !'
1864. Good Words, p. 952. Well as
an Irishman — who had already paid for one
pot of porter and a drop of the CRATER be-
sides— I was not going toi Hear anything
against ould Ireland.
CRAWL, subs, (tailors'). — A work-
man who curries favour with a
foreman or employer; a 'lick-
spittle' or 'bum-sucker.'
CRAWLER, subs-, (common). — i. A
cab that leaves the rank and
'crawls' the street in search of
fares.
I860. Daily News. It is said the
question of making increased provisions for
cab-stands, with a view to the restriction of
the wandering cabs called CRAWLERS, is
now under the consideration of the Chief
Commissioner of Police.
1885. Daily News, August 7, p. 5,
col. i. How often does the driver of the
CRAWLER increase his pace just as he sees
some one venturing to attempt a crossing.
2. (common). — A contemp-
tible person, especially a ' bum-
sucker ' or 'lickspittle.' For
synonyms, see SNIDE;
1885. Evening News, 21 Sept., p. 4,
col. i. The complainant called her father
a liar, a bester, arid a CRAWLER.
CRAWTHUMPERS, subs. (old). — \.
Roman Catholics, ' the Pope's
cockrels' (1629). Also called
BRISKET-BEATERS and, collec-
tively, the BREAST-FL&ET. in
America a CRAWTHUMPER =
ari Irishman or DICK, i.e., aii
Irish Catholic.
1782. WOLCOT, Lyric Odes, No. 7;
in wks; (1809) I., 69. We are no CRAW-
THUMPERS, no devotees.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. CRAW
THUMPERS : Romdn Catholics, so called
from their beating their breasts in the con-
fession of their siris.
1889. Philadelphia Public Ledger
[qvioted in 6". /. <Sr» C. , p. 279]. Wanted
a servant-maid. No puhngs or CRAW-
THUMPERS need apply.
CREAM, subs, (venery). — The semi-
rial fluid ; Marlowe's ' thrice <
decocted blood ' ; the ' white -
blow ' and the ' father-stuff ' of
Whitman. A single drop is
Called A SNOWBALL (q.V.}.
Cream Cheese.
208
Cream- Stick.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Butter ;
buttermilk ; fuck ; white honey ;
jelly ; baby-juice ; homebrewed ;
jam ; ' delicious jam ' (Whitman);
lather ; ' lewd infusion ' ; love-
liquor ; milk ; rrilt ; ointment ;
the oyster ; roe ; seed ; soap ;
spendings ; sperm ; spermatic juice
(Rochester) ; *>pume ; spunk ;
starch; stuff; the tread. — See
COME.
PORTUGUESE SYNONYMS. Leite
( = milk); esporra ; langouha ( =
a kind of thick gum).
CREAM CHEESE. To MAKE ONE
BELIEVE THE MOON IS MADE OF
CREAM (or GREEN) CHEESE,
verbal phr. (popular).— To hum-
bug ; to deceive ; to impose upon.
For synonyms, see BAMBOOZLE
and JOCKEY.
CREAM FANCY. — See BILLY, subs..
CREAM JUGS, subs. (Stock Ex-
change).— i. Charkof-Krements-
chug Railway Bonds.
1887. ATKIN, House Scraps. Oh !
supposing our CREAM-JUGS were broken,
Or 'Beetles' were souring the ' Babies.'
2. (common). — The paps.
CREAM OF THE VALLEY, also COLD
CREAM, subs. phr. (common). —
Gin. C/., MOUNTAIN DEW =
whiskey. For synonyms, see
DRINKS.
1858. A. MAYHEW, Paved -with Gold,
ch. i., p. i. 'What's up, Jim? ... is it
CREAM o' THE WAH.EY or fits as has over-
come the lady ? '
1864. Comic Almanack, p. 63. COLD
CREAM INTERNALLY. — COLD CREAM is an
excellent remedy for ' hot coppers.'
CREAM-STICK, subs, (common). —
The penis. [Literally a STICK
supplying CREAM (q.v. ).
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Aaron's
Rod ; Adam's Arsenal (the penis
and testes) ; the Old Adam ; arbor
vitce ; arse-opener ; arse-wedge ;
athenaeum ; bayonet ; bean-tos-
ser ; beak ; beef (the penis and
testes) ; bag of tricks (idem) ;
belly -ruffian ; Billy - my - Nag ;
bludgeon ; Blueskin ; bracmard
(Urquhart) ; my body's captain
(Whitman) ; broom-handle ; bum-
tickler ; bu>h-beater ; bush-
whacker ; butter-knife ; catso
or gadso; child-getter; chink-
stopper ; clothes-prop ; tlub ;
cock ; concern ; copper-stick ;
crack-hunter ; cracksman ; cranny-
haunter ; cuckoo ; cunny- catcher ;
'crimson chitterling' (Urquhart);
dagger ; dearest member (Burns);
dicky; dibble (Scots); dirk (Scots);
Don Cypriano( Urquhart); do«.dle;
dropping member ; drumstick ;
eye - opener ; father - confessor ;
'cunny-burrow ferret' (Urquhart);
fiddle-bow ; o-for-shame ; flute ;
fornicator ; garden -engine and
gardener (garden = the female
pudendum) ; gaying instrument ;
generation tool (C. Johnson and
Urquhart) ; goose's neck ; cutty
gun (Scots) ; gut-stirk ; hair-(or
beard-)splitter; hair-divider ;Hang-
ing Johnny ; bald-headed hermit;
Irish root ; Jack-in-the-b- x ; Jack
Robinson ; jargonelle ; Jezabel ;
jiijgling-bone (Irish) ; jock (j.v. );
Dr. Johnson ; * Master John
Goodfellow ' (Urquhart) ; Juhn-
Thomas ; Master John Thursday '
(Urquhart) ; man Thomas; jolly-
member ( Urquhart ) ; Julius
Caesar; 'knock-Andrew' (Urqu-
hart) ; lance of love ; Langolee
(Irish) ; leather - stretcher ; life-
preserver ; live sausage (Urqu-
hart) ; Little Davy (Scots) ;
lollipop ; lullaby ; machine ;
'man-root' (Whitman) ; marrow-
bone ; marrow-bone-and-cleaver ;
Cream- Stick.
209
Creation.
Member for Cockshire ; merry-
maker; middle-leg; mouse; mole ;
mowdiwort (Scots) ; Nebuchad-
nezzar (cf., GREENS) ; nilnisis-
tando (Urquhart) ; Nimrod ; nud-
innudo (Urquhart); ' nine - inch
knocker ' (Urquhart) ; old man ;
peace-maker ; pecker ; pecnoster;
pego ; pestle ; pike (Shakspeare) ;
pike-staff; pile - driver ; pintle ;
pizzle ; ploughshare ; plug-tail ;
pointer ; ' poperine pear ' (Shaks-
peare) ; Polyphemus ; * pond-
snipe' (Whitman) ; prick (Shaks-
peare and Fletcher) ; ' prickle ' ;
privates, and private property
(the penis and testes) ; ' privy
member ' (Biblical) ; quim-stake ;
ramrod ; 'Rector of the females '
(Rochester); Roger ; rolling-pin ;
root ; rudder ; rump-splitter ;
Saint Peter (who * keeps the
keys of Paradise ') ; ' sausage '
(Sterne) ; sceptre ; shove-straight;
sky - scraper ; solicitor - general ;
spigot ; ' split-rump' (Urquhart) ;
spindle; sponge (cf., RAMROD);
staff of life ; stern-post ; sugar-
stick ; tarse ; tent-peg ; thing ;
'thumb of love' (Whitman);
' tickle - gizzard ' (Urquhart) ;
tickle-toby ; tool ; toy ; trifle
(tailors') ; trouble-giblets ; tug-
mutton ; unruly-member ; vestry-
man ; watch-and-seals (the penis
and testes) ; wedge ; whore-pipe
(Rochester) ; wimble ; yard ;
Zadkiel (almanack) = the female
pudendum.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Le saw-
sonnet (popular : literally a star-
ling) ; h gluant (thieves' = Old
Slimy. In Argot also ' a baby ') ;
f asticot (properly = a flesh-
worm) ; le jambot (Villon).
GERMAN SYNONYMS. Bletzer
(from Bletz = z. wedge ; bletzen =
to beget) ; Breslauer (Viennese
thieves' = magnum membrum
virile ; also, a head -piece, and a
large glass, or indeed any quan-
tity of brandy) ; Bruder (also an
expression belonging to the
Fiesellange ; literally a brother.
Cf., Schwesterlein, little sister =
the female pudendTim) ; Butzel-
mann (in Luther's Liber Va°a
torum [1529] ; Buze = little man) ;
Fiesel (supposed to be from
Faser a birch-rod or fibre ; the
Eng. feaze is also connected
with it. Thus, Madchenfiesel,
a * hot member ' ; Pechfiesel,
a shoemaker, etc. Fiesellange
signifies the language of the
strong, i.e., those of the 'fellow-
ship ' of thieves, burglars, and
rowdies [Fr., coupeur], etc. In
Vienna Fiesel = the lowest and
most dangerous type of bawdy-
house bully). Dickmann (also,
an egg» or testicle) ; Pinke or
Finke (Low German) ; Schmeichaz
or Schmeiqaz (O.H.G. smeichen
= to flatter, to laugh) ; Schwanz
(also, a fool or boaster).
PORTUGUESE SYNONYMS. Pae
de todos ( = father of all) ; porra
( = a strong stick) ; virgolleiro ( =
that which deprives of virginity) ;
pica ( = lance ; also, a measure
equal in length to the handle of
a long spear ; cf., Eng. YARD) ;
bacamarte ( = a milk -giving gun);
a montholia de Pastor ( = an oil-
flask).
CREAMY, adj. (general). — Excellent;
first-rate. For synonyms, see A I
and FIZZING.
CREATION. To BEAT or LICK CREA-
TION, verbal phr. (American).
— To overpower ; excel ; surpass ;
to be incomparable. English
variants are ' to beat hollow, to
sticks, or to fits,' etc. Cf., BIG
AS ALL OUTDOORS.
14
Creeme.
210
Crevecceur.
1848. BARTLETT, Diet, of Amer.
' Proverbs' When a man runs his head
against a post, he curses the post first,
ALL CREATION next, and something else
last, and never thinks of cursing himself.
1862. Among the Mermaids. 'An
Old Sailor's Yarn,' p. 86. The notion of
finding the capting's cask pleased me
mightily cos I knowed it would TICKLE
the old man LIKE ALL CREATION.
1888. Detroit Free Press, 14 Aug.
I'm willin' to take advice. BEATS ALL
CREATION how I mistook, but I shan't go
agin yer words.
CREEME, verb (old). — To slip or
slide anything into the hands of
another.— Grose [1785].
CREEPER, subs, (general). — One
who cringes and ' curries favour ' ;
a 'skunk,' or SNIDE (q.v.y for
synonyms),
CREEPERS, subs, (common). — I.
The feet.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Dew-
beaters ; beetle-crushers ; under-
standings ; trotters ; tootsies :
stumps (also the legs) ; ever-
lasting shoes ; hocks ; boot-trees ;
pasterns ; ards (Old Cant : now
used as an adjective, = ' hot ') ;
double-breasters ; daisy-beaters ;
kickers; crabs; trampers; hockles;
hoofs ; pudseys.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Les
trottins (popular : trottiner, to go
a jog-trot ; aller chercher les
pardmts de Saint- Trottin, to take
a walk instead of going to
church) ; les reposoirs (common :
properly [in sing.'} a resting place
or pause ; also an altar set up in
the streets for a procession) ; les
ripatons (popular) ; les palerons
(thieves' : properly, in sing., a
shoulder - blade) ; les paturons
(thieves': properly pasterns); les
harpions (thieves' : also hands.
Cotgrave has harpe d'un chien = a
dog's claw or paw ; also, 11 mania
tits bien ses harpes, He stirred his
fingers very nimbly. \_Cf., 'pick-
ers and stealers ' = ringers] ; les
mains courantes (popular : liter-
ally running hands).
GERMAN SYNONYMS. Tretter
(Cf., English 'trotter'); Tritt-
ling, or Trittchen ( Hanoverian =
shoe, boot, foot, or staircase) ;
J^rittlingspflanzer or Trittling-
smelochner (the shoemaker).
ITALIAN SYNONYMS Calcioso;
pisante ; bottiero ; mazzo.
2. (general). — Lice. For
synonyms, see CHATES.
CREEPS, subs, (common). — The
peculiar thrill resulting from an
undefinable sense of dread.
[Literally a * crawling' of the
flesh as with fear.] Also known
as GOOSE-FLESH, COLD SHIVERS,
and COLD WATER DOWN THE
BACK.
1836. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers.
I wants to make yer flesh CREEP.
1864. E. YATES, Broken to Harness,
ch. xiii. [Late Autumn.] Dreary down
in the old country mansions . . . where the
servants, town-bred, commence to be
colded, sniffy, to have shivers and CREEPS.
1870. London Figaro, 27 June. ' A
River Romance.' Talking about bodies,
I could give you the CREEPS with what I've
seen.
1883. The Lute, 15 Jan., p. 18, col. 2.
We see the great tragedian holding on to
a chair, and giving his audience CREEPS
with the ' Dream of Eugene Aram.'
1890. Globe, 22 May, p. i, col. 4.
Miss Gertrude is the sister of Mrs.
Chanler-Rives (better known as Amelie,
or still better as the writer of The Quick
or the Dead, by which many ladylike
persons have been given ' the CREEPS ').
CREVECCEUR. — See HEART-
BREAKER.
211
Crib.
CREVICE, subs, (vencry). — The
female pudendtim. For syno-
nyms, see MONOSYLLABLE.
Cm, subs, (popular). — The Cri-
terion, theatre and restaurant,
at Piccadilly Circus.
c. 1886. Broadside Ballad, c Another
Fellah's.' Round into the CRI ev'ry
evening I slip, And deep in the pale
sparkling bitter I dip.
CRIB, subs. (old). — I. The stomach.
Cf., CRIBBING, sense i. [A
transferred sense of CRIB = a
manger, rack, or feeding place.
Cf., Isaiah i., 3, ' The ox know-
eih his owner, and the ass his
master's CRIB.'] For synonyms,
see BREAD-BASKET and VICTUAL-
LING OFFICE.
1656. BROME, Jovial Crew, Act. ii.
Here's pannum and lap, and good poplars
of Yarrum, To fill up the CRIB, and to
comfort the quarron.
2. (colloquial). — A house ;
place of abode ; apartments ;
lodgings ; shop ; warehouse ;
'den,' ' diggings,' or 'snuggery.'
For synonyms, see DIGGINGS.
[From A.S., crib, or cribb a small
habitation.]
1598. SHAKSPEARE, King Henry IV.
Why, rather, sleep, liest thou in smoky
CRIBS, Than in the perfumed chambers of
the great ?
1830. BuLWERLYTTON,/^«/C/Z^r^,
p. 80 (ed. 1854). Now, now in the CRIB,
where a ruffler may lie, Without fear that
the traps should distress him.
1837. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, ch.
xix. The CRIB'S barred up at night like a
jail.
1847. Illus. London News, 22 May.
The burglar has his CRIB in Clerkenwell.
1860. Chambers" Journal, vol. XIII.,
p. 212. He said he was awful flattered
like by the honour of seeing two such
gents at his CRIB.
1882. Daily News, 5 Oct., p. 5, col. 2.
To manage escapes from prison success-
fully is only an application of the prin-
ciples which enable the burglar to crack
the rural CRIB and appropriate the swag
of her Majesty's peaceful subjects.
3. (popular). — A situation,
' place,' or ' berth.' [The transi-
tion from subs.% sense 2, is easy
and natural.]
4. (school and University). —
A literal translation surrepti-
tiously used by students ; also a
theft of any kind ; specifically,
anything copied without acknow-
ledgment.— [See verb., sense 2.]
For synonyms, see PONY.
1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 185. He has
with a prudent forethought stuffed his
CRIBS inside his double-breasted waist-
coat.
1853. C. BEDE, Verdant Green, pt.
I., p. 64.
1855. THACKERAY, Newcomes, ch.
xxii. I wish I had read Greek a little
more at school . . . when we return I
think I shall try and read it with CRIBS.
1856. T. HUGHES, Tom Brown's
School-days, pt. II., ch. vi. Tom, I
want you to give up using vulgus books
and CRIBS.
1889. Globe, 12 Oct., p. i, col. 4.
Always, it seems likely, there will be men
' going up ' for examinations ; and every
new and again, no doubt, there will be
among them a wily ' Heathen Pass-ee' like
him of whom Mr. Hilton speaks— who
had CRIBS up his sleeve, and notes on his
cuff.
5. (thieves').— A bed.— [See
subs., senses 2 and 3.]
1827. MAGINN, from Vidocq. Lend
me a lift in the fanvly way. You may
have a CRIB to stow in.
Verb (colloquial).— I To steal
or pilfer ; used specifically of
petty thefts. For synonyms, see
PRIG.
1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5 ed.).
CRIB (v.) : to with-hold, keep back, pinch,
Cribbage-Face.
212
Crib-Cracker.
or thieve a part out of money given to lay
out for necessaries.
1772. FOOTE Nabob, Act i. There
are a brace of birds and a hare, that I
CRIBBED this morning out of a basket of
game.
1846. T. HOOD, Ode to Rae Wilson,
Esqr., wks., vol. IV., p. 224. Yet sure of
Heaven themselves, as if they'd CKIBB'D
Th' impression of St. Peter's keys in wax.
1855. ROBERT BROWNING, Men and
Women. Fra Lippo Lippi, ed. 18^3,
p. 351. Black and white I drew From
good old gossips waiting to confess Their
CRIBS of barrel-droppings, candle-ends.
1889. Answers, 27 July, page 141,
col. i. He knew that if the manuscript
got about the Yankees would think it a
smart thing to CRIB it.
2. (school and University). —
To use a translation ; to cheat at
an examination ; to plagiarise.
1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 177. CRIBBING
his answers from a tiny manual of know-
ledge, two inches by one-and-a-half in
size, which he hides under his blotting-
paper.
1856. T. HUGHES, Tom Browns
School-days, pt. II., ch. iii. Finishing up
with two highly moral lines extra, making
ten in all, which he CRIBBED entire from
one of his books.
To CRACK A CRIB. — See under
CRACK.
CRIBBAGE-FACE and CRIBBAGE-
FACED, subs, and adj. phr. (com-
mon).— Pock-marked and like
a cribbage - board. Otherwise
COLANDER - FACED, CRUMPET-
FACED, PIKELET - FACED, and
MOCKERED (q.V.).
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Avoir
un grenier a lentilles (popular : a
cock-loft, granary, or garret, for
the storage of lentils) ; ne pas
s'etre assure contre la grele (popu-
lar : £•?<?/,?= hail); un morceau de
gruyere (popular : th.it cheese
being honeycombed with holes) ;
avoir un moule ft gaufres (popular:
nioule = mould ; gaufre -~ a
cake) ; une ecumoire (familiar :
properly a skimmer) ; poele a
chataignes (potle = frying pan and
ch&taignes = chestnuts ; the colan-
der-like shovel for roasting chest-
nuts).
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue.
CRIBBAGE-FACED : marked with the small-
pox, the pits bearing a kind of resem-
blance to the holes in a cribbage-board.
CRIBBER, subs, (military). — A
grumbler. [A horse that gnaws
his crib or manger.] Cf., CRIB-
BI i ER, and for synonyms, see
RUSTY-GUTS.
CRIBBEYSOrCRIBBY-ISLANDS,.W^.
(old). — Blind alleys, courts, and
bye-ways ; Fr., culs-de-sac.
CRIBBING, verbal subs. (old). — i.
Food and Drink. Cf., CRIB,
sense i.
1656. R. BROME, A Jovial Crew.
For all this ben CRIBBING and Peck let us
then, Bowse a health to the gentry cofe of
the ken.
2. (schools' and University and
general). — Stealing ; purloining ;
using a translation. Cf., CRIB,
subs. , sense 4.
1862. FARRAR, St. Winifred's, ch.
xxxv. They would not call it stealing but
bagging a thing, or, at the worst, CRIBBING
it — concealing the villainy under a new
name.
CRIB-BITER, subs, (common). — An
inveterate grumbler. [Properly
a horse that worries his crib,
rack, manger, or groom, and at
the same time draws in his breath
so as to make the peculiar noise
called wind -sucking.] French
equivalents are un gourgousseur ;
un reme ; un rtnficleur ; and un
renaudeur. — See CRIBBER.
CRIB-CRACKER, subs, (general). — A
housebreaker.
Crib-Cracking.
213
Cripple.
1880. G. R. SIMS, How the Poor
Live, p. ii. The little boys look up half
with awe and half with admiration at the
burly Sikes with his flash style, and
delight in gossip concerning his talents as
a CRIB-CRACKER, and his adventures as a
pickpocket.
CRIB-CRACKING, verbal subs.
(thieves'). — Housebreaking.
1852. Punch, vol. XXIII., p. 161.
With higher ambition Bill Sykes he
burned, And becoming experteras he grew
older, From cly-faking to CRIB-CRACKING
turned.
CRIES. — See STREET CRIES.
CRIKEY! CRACKY! CRY! infj.
(common). — Formerly, * a pro-
• fane oath ' ; now a mere expres-
sion of astonishment. [A corrup-
tion of 'Christ.']
1837. R. H. BARHAM, The Ingoldsby
Legends (ed. 1862), p. 276. It would
make you exclaim, 'twould so forcibly
strike ye, If a Frenchman Superbe! — if
an Englishman CRIKEY !
1841. Comic Almanack, p. 275. Oh !
CRIKEY, Bill ; vot a conch that lady's
got!
1853. Diogenes, II., 54. O, CRIKEY!
the switching I got, At the hand of the
cruel old miser.
1888. W. E. HENLEY. 'Culture in
the Slums.' ' O CRIKEY, Bill ! ' she says
to me, she ses. ' Look sharp,' ses she,
' with them there sossiges.'
CRIMINI, CRIMINEY, or CRIMES I —
See CRIKEY. [Possibly the latter
usage has been influenced by
crimen meum, my fault.]
1700. FARQUHAR, Constant Couple,
Act iv., Sc. i. Murder 'd my brother ! O
CRIMINI !
1816. SCOTT, Antiquary, ch. xvi.
"A monument of a knight - templar on
each side of a Grecian porch, and a Ma-
donna on the top of it ! — O CRIMINI !
1841. The Comic Almanack, p. 280.
' A Lament for Bartlemy Fair.' Oh ! lawk ;
oh ! dear ; oh ! CKIMENY me ; what a
downright sin and a shame.
CRIMSON. To MAKE THINGS LOOK
CRIMSON, verbal phr. (American).
— To indulge in a drunken frolic J
to PAINT THE TOWN RED (q.V.).
CRIMSON CHITTERLINQ, subs. phr.
(old). — The penis. Used by
Urquhart. For synonyms, see
CRKAMSTICK.
CRINCLE-POUCH, subs. (old). — A
sixpence. For synonyms, see
BENDER.
1593. ' Bacchus' Bountie,' Harl. Misc.,
II., p. 270 [ed. 1808-11]. See then the
goodnes of this so gracious a god, al yee,
which in the driest drought of summer,
had rather shroude your throates with a
handfull of hemp, than with the expence
of an odde CRINCLEPOUCH, wash your-
selues within and without, and make
yourselues as mery as dawes.
CRINKUM-CRANKUM, subs. (old).
— The female pudendum. [Pro-
perly a winding way.] For syno-
nyms, see MONOSYLLABLE.
CRINKUMS, subs, (old).— A vene-
real disease. Cf., CRINKUM-
CRANKUM. For synonyms, see
LADIES' FEVER.
CRINOLINE, subs, (common). — A
woman. For synonyms, see
PETTICOAT.
CRIPPLE, subs. (old). — i. A'snid'
(Scots) or sixpence. — [See quots.,
1785 and 1885.] For synonyms,
set BENDER.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue.
CRIPPLE : six pence, that piece being
commonly much bent and distorted.
1789. GEO. PARKER, Life's Painter,
p. 178, s.v.
1819. T. MOORE, Tom Crib's Memo-
rial, p. 25, n. A bandy or CRIPPLE, a
sixpence.
1885. Household Words, 20 June, p-
155. The sixpence is a coin more liable to
bend than most others, so it is not surpris.
Crisp.
214
Croaker.
ing to find that several of its popular names
have reference to this weakness. It is
called a bandy, a ' bender,' a CRIPFLE.
2. (common). — An awkward
oaf ; also a dullard. Fr., mala-
patte (popular : properly mal
& la patte). [Figurative for one
that creeps, iimps, or halts —
whether physically or mentally.]
Cf., sense 3, arid Go IT, YOU
CRIPPLES.
3. (Wellington College).— A
dolt ; literally one without a leg
to stand on. Cf., sense 2, and
GO IT, YOU CRIPPLES.
GO IT, YOU CRIPPLES ! phr.
(general). — A sarcastic comment
on strenuous effort ; frequently
used without much sense of fit-
ness ; e.g., when the person
addressed is a capable athlete.
WOODEN LEGS ARE CHEAP is
sometimes added as an intensi-
tive.
1840. THACKERAY, Cox's Diary.
1 Striking a balance,' p. 229. ' O ! come
along.' said Lord Lollypop, 'come along
this way, ma'am ! Go IT, YE CRIPPLES.
CRISP, s^^bs. (popular). — A bank-
note. For synonyms, see SOFT.
CRISPIN, subs, (common). — A shoe-
maker. [From Saints Crispin
and Crispianus, the patrons of the
* gentle craft,' z>., shoemaking.]
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1861. Punch, vol. XLL, p. 246.
CRISPIN, everybody knows to be a name for
a shoemaker.
ST. CRISPIN'S LANCE, subs.
phr. (old). — An awl. [From
CRISPIN (q.v.) + LANCE, a weap-
on.] Fr., une lance.
— Every Monday throughout the
year, but most particularly the
25th of October, being the anni-
versary of Crispinus and Crispi-
CROAK, subs, (thieves'). — A dying
speech, especially the confession
of a murderer. Also the same
as printed for sale in the streets
by a ' FLYING STATIONER.
[From the verbal sense (q.v.).]
1887. A. BARRERE, Argot and Slang,
p. 272. The criminal . . . would per-
haps, utter for the edification of the crowd
his ' tops, or CROAKS,' that is, his last
dying speech.
1887. W. E. HENLEY, Villon's
Straight Tip. Go crying CROAKS, or
flash the drag.
Verb. — To die. For synonyms,
see ALOFT.
CROAKER, subs. (old). — I. A six-
pence. For synonyms, see BEN-
DER,
2. (old). — A beggar,
1857. SNOWDEN, Mag. Assistant, 3
ed., p. 444, s.v.
3. (common). — A dying per-
son.— See CROAK, verbal sense.
4. (common). — A corpse,
[From CROAK, verb, sense, through
CROAKER, senses 2 and 3.] For
synonyms, see DEAD-MEAT,
5. (provincial). — See quot,
1886. Ulster Echo, 31 July, p. 4. The
inspector of nuisances said the meat was
known as CROAKER, or the flesh of an
animal which had died a natural death.
6. (prison). — A doctor [con-
nected with CROCUS, but influenced
by CROAKER, subs., senses 2, 3,
and 4.]
1889. Evening News [quoted in
Slang, f argon, and Cant], One man who
had put his name for the ' butcher ' or
CROAKER, would suddenly find that he had
three ounces of bread less to receive, and
then a scene would ensue.
Crbakumskire.
215
Crocus.
7. (common). — A person, male
or female, who sees everything CM
noir, and whose conversation is
likened to that of the raven,
which is a bird of ill -omen.— See
Goldsmith's Good Natured Man.
Fr. , un glas — also a passing bell.
C ROAKU M SH I R E,subs. (old).— North-
umberland. [Grose : ' from the
particular croaking in the pro-
nunciation of the people of that
county, especially about New-
castle and Morpeth, where they
are said to be born with a burr
in their throats, which prevents
their pronouncing the letter 'r.']
CROCK, subs, (common). — A worth-
less animal ; a fool ; said of a
horse il signifies a good-for-nothing
brute ; of a man or woman, a
duffer, a 'rotter.' [Most likely
from the Scots CROCK = an old
sheep.]
1887. Sporting Times, 12 March,
p. 2, col. 5. The wretched CROCKS that
now go to the post will be relegated to
more appropriate work.
1889. Birdo' Freedom, 7 Aug., p. 3,
For five minutes that CROCK went about
twice as fast as it had ever done.
1889. Illustrated Bits, 13 July, ' I
say,' said the Lumberer to the Old Hermit,
as they stood at the mouth of the Cave
listening to the song birds, ' you are getting
a bit of a CROCK — failing fast, I should
say.'
CROCKETTS, subs. (Winchester Col-
lege).— A kind of bastard cricket,
sometimes called ' small CRO-
CHETTS.' Five stumps are used
and a fives ball, with a bat of
plain deal about two inches broad,
or a broomstick.
1870. MANSFIELD, School - Life at
Winchester College, p. 122. The more
noisily disposed would indulge in ...
playing Hicockolorum, or CROCKETTS.
TO GET CROCKETTS, verbal
pht. — To fail to score at cricket ;
to make a duck's egg.
CROCODILE, subs. (University). —
A girl's school walking two and
two.
CROCUS, CROCUS - METALLORUM
or CROAKUS, subs, (common). —
A doctor ; specifically, a quack.
[Conjecturally, a derivative of
CROAK = to die. Cf.t quot. 1781,
under CROCUSSING RIG.]
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Pill ;
squirt ; butcher ; croaker ; corpse-
provider ; bolus ; clyster ; galli-
pot. [Several of these terms also
= an apothecary.]
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Un
dragtieur (popular : literally a
dredging machine) ; un cliabeau
(a doctor at St. Lazare) ; un
bentvole (popular : a young doc-
tor, especially one walking the
hospitals) ; un marchandde marts
subites (common : literally 'a
dealer in sudden death.' Cf.,
CORPSE PROVIDER).
GERMAN SYNONYM. Rofe or
Raufe (from the Hebrew).
ITALIAN SYNONYMS. Maggio
(signifying God, king, lord, and
pope) ; posteggiatore (literally ' he
that places ' ; used of any char-
latan, but particularly of a quack
doctor) ; dragon difarda.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue.
CROCUS or CROCUS METALLORUM : a nick-
name for the surgeons of the army and
navy.
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Land. Poor, vol. I., p. 231 (quoted in
list of patterer's words).
1857. SNOWDEN, Mag. Assistant,
3 fid. p., 444, s.v.
Crocus-Chovey.
216
Crooked.
CROCUS-CHOVEY (vagrants' and
thieves'). — A doctor's shop. From
[CROCUS = doctor + CHOVEY,
a shop.]
CROCUS-PITCHER, suds, (vagrants'
and thieves'). — A quack am-
bulant. [From CROCUS (q.v.}, a
doctor, + PITCHER, one that
stands in the street to hold forth
concerning his business.]
CROCUSSING-RIG, subs, (old), —
Travelling from place to place as
a quack doctor. [From CROCUS
(q.v.), a doctor, + ING + RIG,
a performance or trick.]
1781. G. PARKER, View of Society,
II., 171. CROCUSSING RIG is performed
"by men and women, who travel as Doctors
or Doctoresses.
CRONE, subs, (showmen's). — A
clown or buffoon.
CROOK, subs. (old). — i. A sixpence.
[An abbreviation of CROOKBACK
&-».).]
1789. GEO. PARKER, Life's Painter,
p. 178, s.v.
2. (general).— A thief;
swindler ; one who gets things ON
THE CROOK (q.V.}.
1887. Orange Journal, 16 April.
Strange as the statement may seem, the
public know nothing of the work of a
really clever CROOK, and the police them-
selves know very little more. The ex-
planation of this ignorance is a very
simple one. A CROOK whose methods are
exposed is a second-rate CROOK.
ON THE CROOK, adv. phr.
(thieves'). — The antithesis of ON
THE STRAIGHT (q.V.']. Cf.y ON
THE CROSS.
1879. J. W. HORSLEY, in Macm.
Mao-., XL., 503. Which he had bought
ON THE CROOK (dishonestly).
TO CROOK (or COCK) THE
ELBOW, or the LITTLE FINGER,
verbal phr. (popular). —To drink.
[A French colloquialism, identical
in meaning, is lever le coude ; a
hard drinker is un adroit du
coude.~\ For synonyms, see LUSH.
1871. DE VERE, Americanisms.
To CROOK THE ELBOW, is one of the
many slang terms for drinking.
1877. BESANT AND RICE, With Harp
and Cro-ivn, ch. xix. The secretary
. . . might have done great things in
literature but for his unfortunate CROOK
OF THE ELBOW. As he only CROOKS it at
night, it does not matter to the hospital.
1888. Detroit Free Press, 3 May,
P. 4, col. i. I'll .... ask him to take
a drink, chat with him while he CROOKS
His ELBOW.
CROOK-BACK, subs, (old).— A six-
penny piece, many of the slang
names of which suggest a bashed
and battered appearance; e.g.,
1 bender,' ' cripple,' ' crook,'
CROOKBACK, etc. Quoted by
Grose [1785]. For synonyms, see
BENDER.
CROOKED, ppl. adj. (colloquial). —
Disappointing ; the reverse of
STRAIGHT (qtVt}; pertaining to
the habits, ways, and customs of
thieves.— See ON THE CROOK.
So also, mutatis mutandis, CROOK-
EDNESS = rascality of every kind.
1837. Comic Almanack, p. 94.
Things have gone very CROOKED.
,1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude,
ch. ii., p. 126. The prisoner's friend was
also a ' fly' man, and he immediately saw
how he could thoroughly pay off the
CROOKED officer.
1884. Daily Telegraph, 22 Jan., p. 3,
col. i. My time was up the same day as
that of two lads of the CROOKED school ;
it was through them that I took to
thieving.
1884. Echo, 28 Jan., p. 4, col. i.
Last season will be long remembered in
the racing world for the CROOKEDNESS of
some owners.
1888. Detroit Free Press, 3 Nov.
' What are you trying to get out of me ? '
' I am going to see that to-night you are
Crooky.
217
Cross.
better lodged to begin with. I may
decide to do more, but that will depend
pretty much on yourself.' ' Nothing
CROOKED, is it?' asked the other, sus-
piciously !
CROOKED AS A VIRGINIA (or
SNAKE) FENCE, phr* (American).
— Uneven ; zig-zag ; said of mat-
ters or persons difficult to keep
' straight.' To MAKE A VIRGINIA
FENCE is to walk unsteadily, as a
drunkard. The Virginia fences
zigzag with the soil.
CROOKY, verb (common). — To
hang on to ; to lead ; to walk
arm-in-arm ; to court or pay ad-
dresses to a girl. For synonyms,
see TROT OUT.
CROP. — See CRAP, sense i.
CROPPED,///.^', (old).— Hanged.
For synonyms, see LADDER and
TOPPED.
1J81. G. PARKER, View of Society,
II., 30. Sentencing some more to be
CRAPPED (sic) [hanged].
CROPPER, subs, (common). — A
heavy fall or failure of any kind ;
generally ' to come a CROPPER.'
[Originally hunting.} Analagous
French phrases are avoir une dis-
cussion avec le pave (literally ' to
argue with the pavement ') ;
prendre un billet de parterre (a
punning play upon words : the
pit of a theatre is parterre \par
terre = on the ground : hence
to take a ticket for the pit) ; se
lithographier (popular). For
synonyms in a metaphorical sense,
see Go TO POT.
1868. Echoes ft om the Clubs, 23 Dec.
'Pleasures of th». Hunting Field.' In
short, it is fox-hunting which ... in-
duces the belief that life is a mistake
without occasional CROPPERS.
1869. H. ]. BYRON, Not such a Fool
as He Looks [French's Acting ed.], p. 8.
Mr. Topham Sawyer missed his own tip
as well as his wictim's, and CAME DOWN A
CROPPER on a convenient doorstep.
1880. A. TROLLOPE, The Dukes
Children, ch. Ixvii. Talking to his father
he could not quite venture to ask what
might happen if he were TO COME A
CROPPER.
1883. Daily News, 24 Jan., p. 5, col.
3. Ouida treads ' alone, aloft, sublime '
where Astraea might fear to pass, and
though she COMES what men call CROPPERS
over a thousand details, she is sublimely
unconscious of her blunders.
CROPPIE or CROPPY, subs. (old).
— Originally applied to criminals
CROPPED as to their ears and
their noses by the public exe-
cutioner ; subsequently, to con-
victs, in allusion to their close
CROPPED hair; hence to any
person whose hair was cut close
to the head ; e.g., the Puritans
and the Irish Rebels of 1789.
1870. SIR G. C. LEWIS, Letters, p.
410. Wearing the. hair short and without
powder was, at this time, considered a
mark of French principles. Hair so worn
was called a ' crop.' Hence Lord Mel-
bourne's phrase, 'crop-imitating wig'
[Poetry of Anti-Jacobin, p. 41]. This is
the origin of CROPPIES, as applied to the
Irish rebels of 1789.
1877-79. GREEN, Short Hist. Eng.
People, ch. x., The CROPPIES, as the Irish
insurgents were called in derision from
their short-cut hair.
CROPPLED. To BE CROPPLED,
verbal phr. (Winchester College).
— To fail in an examination ; to
be sent down at a lesson.
CROPPY. — See CROPPIE.
CROPS, verbal phr* — To GO AND
LOOK AT THE CROPS = tO leave
the room for the purpose of
consulting MRS. JONES (q.v.).
CROSS, subs, (thieves'). — I. A
pre-arranged swindle. In its
special sporting signification a
Cross.
218
Cross.
CROSS is an arrangement to lose
on the part of one ot the prin-
cipals in a fight, or any kind of
match. When both principals
conspire that one shall win, it is
called a DOUBLE CROSS (g.v.).
[Obviously a shortened form of
CROSS-BITE (g.v.) verbal sense).]
1834. W. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood.
Two milling coves, each vide avake, Vere
backed to fight for heavy stake ; But in the
mean time, so it vos, Both kids agreed to
play a CROSS.
1864. Derby Day, p. 39. ' As sure as
the sun shines, Askpart '11 lick 'em ; if so
be,' he added significantly, 'as there ain't
no CROSS.'
1867. A. TROLLOPE, Claverings, ch.
-xxx. I always suppose every horse will
run to win ; and though there may be a
CROSS now and again, that's the surest line
to go upon.
2. (thieves').— A thief; also
CROSS-MAN, CROSS-COVE, CROSS-
CHAP, SQUIRE, KNIGHT, or LAD,
OF THE CROSS, etc. [Literally
- a man ON THE CROSS (q.v.}.~\ For
synonyms, see THIEVES.
1830. BULWER LYTTON, Paul Clif-
ford^ p. 72, ed. 1854. There is an excellent
fellow near here, who keeps a public-house,
and is a firm ally and generous patron of
the LADS OF THE CROSS. Ibid, p. 140.
Gentlemen of the Road, the Street, the
Theatre and the Shop ! Prigs, Toby-men,
and SQUIRES OF THE CROSS !
1834. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, bk.
IV., ch. ii. Never a CROSS COVE of us
all can throw off so prime a chant as your-
self.
1864. Cornhill Magazine, II., 336,
In the following verse, taken from a pet
flash song, you have a comic specimen of
this sort of guilty chivalry :— ' A CROSS
COVE is in the street for me, And I a poor
girl of low degree ; If I was as rich as I
am poor, Ye never should go on the cross
no more."
Verb.— I. To play false in a
match of any kind.
1887. W. E. HENLEY AND R. L.
STEVENSON, Deacon Brodie, Activ., So. 3.
What made you CROSS the fight and play
booty with your owa man ?
2. (venery). — To possess or
' cover ' a woman.
CROSS IN THE AIR, subs. phr.
(volunteers'). — A rifle carried
butt-end upwards.
3. (colloquial). — To thwart ;
to baffle ; to spoil.
1709. MATTHEW PRIOR, The" Thief,
etc. There the squires of the pad and the
knights of the post, Find their fears no
more balked and their hopes no more
CROSSED.
To PLAY A CROSS, verbal phr.
— See CROSS, suds., sense I ; and
verb, sense I.
1834. W. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood,
p. 257 (ed. 1864), Zoroaster was just the
man to lose a fight ; or, in the language of
the Fancy, to PLAY A CROSS.
TO SHAKE THE CROSS, verbal
phr. (American thieves'). — To
quit the CROSS and go ON THE
SQUARE (g.V.).
1877. S. L. CLEMENS ('Mark
Twain'), Life on the Mississippi, ch. Hi.,
p. 459. The day my time was up, you told
me if i would SHAKE THE CROSS and live on
the square for three months, it would be the
best job i ever done in my life.
To BE CROSSED, verbal phr.
(University). — Thus explained in
a University Guide : — For not
paying term bills to the bursar
(treasurer), or for cutting chapels,
or lectures, or other offences, an
undergrad can be CROSSED at the
buttery, or kitchen, or both, i.e.,
a CROSS is put against his name
by the Don, who wishes to see
him, or to punish him.
1853. REV. E. BRADLEY, ('Cuthbert
Bede'), Verdant Green, pt. II., ch. x.
Sir ! — You will translate all your lectures ;
have your name CROSSED on the buttery and
kitchen books ; and be confined to chapel,
hall, and college.
Cross-Belts.
219
Cross-Biting.
See also CROSS, verb, sense I.
ON THE CROSS, phr. — The
opposite of ON THE SQUARE (q.V.).
Cf., ON THE CROOK.
1861. H. KINGSLEY, Ravenshoe, ch.
xxxv. [Chas. Ravenshoe to Shoeblack}
' Have you any brothers?' ' Five altogether.
Jim was gone for a sojer, it appeared ; and
Nipper was sent over the water, Harry was
gone ON THE CROSS.' 'ON THE CROSS?'
said Charles. ' Ah,' the boy said, ' he goes
out cly-faking and such. He's a.prig, and
a smart one, too. He's/?jc, is Harry.'
1868. OUIDA, Under Two Flags, ch.
v. Rake had seen a good deal of men and
manners, and, in his own opinion at least,
was ' up to every dodge ON THE CROSS ' that
this iniquitous world could unfold.
1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude,
ch. iii., p. 244. We went down to a bloke
I knew up in one of the streets leading off
the Euston road who did a little ON THE
CROSS now and again, to see what he'd stand
for the ^300.
1884. Echo, i March, p. 3, col. 6.
Prisoner knew they were stolen, and said he
could get rid of any quantity of similar
articles that were got ON THE CROSS, a
slang expression for stolen goods.
1889. Answers, 8 June, p. 25. One
of them then came a little nearer, and pro-
duced a good gold scarf pin, worth, perhaps,
£,2 or £•$, and asked if I would buy it, add-
ing it was ON THE CROSS (stolen), and I
could have it for 23., as they wanted a shil-
ling to get a bed.
CROSS- BELTS, subs, (military). —
The Eighth Hussars. [The re-
giment wears the sword belt
over the right shoulder in memory
of the Battle of Saragossa, where
it took the belts of the Spanish
cavalry. This privilege was con-
firmed by the King's Regulations
of 1768.
CROSS- BITE, subs.
CROSS-BITING*
(old).— See
Verb (old).— To cheat; to
scold ; to hoax. [Nares thinks
it a compound of CROSS and BITE.
It has suffered a double abbrevia-
tion, both its components being
used substantively and verbally in
the same sense.] For synonyms,
see STIFF.
1581. RICHE, Farewell to Militarie
Profession. She was such a devill of her
tongue, and would so CROSSEBiTEhym with
suche tauntes and spightful quippes.
1593. G. HARVEY, New Letter, in
wks. I., 274 (Grosart). If he playeth at
fast and loose . . . whom shall he conny
catch, or CROSBITE, but his cast-away
selfe.
1717. PRIOR, Alma, canto iii. As
Nature slily had thought fit For some by
ends to CROSS-BIT wit.
1822. SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel, ch.
xxiii. I know— I know— ugh— but I'll
CROSS-BITE him.
CROSS-BITER, su6s. (old). — A
cheat ; swindler ; or hoaxer.
[From CROSS-BITE, verb (q.v.},+
ER.] Fr. , un goureur.
1592. ROBERT GREENE, Blacke Bookes
Messenger [part of title]. Laying open
the Life and Death of Ned Browne, one of
the most notable Cutpurses, CROS-BITERS,
and Coneycatchers.
1669. Nicker Nicked, in Harl. Misc.
(ed. Park), II., 108, s.v.
1681. A Dialogue, etc., in Harl. Misc.
(ed. Park), II., 126. I think nobody knows
what he is ; but I take him to be a CROSS-
BITER.
CROSS-BITING, verbal subs, (old).—
A deception ; cheat ; or hoax.
Cf., CROSS-BITE, verb.
1576. WHETSTONE, Rocke of Regard,
p, 50. CROSBITING, a kind of cousoning,
under the couler of friendship ; and in his
epistle to the readers, The cheter will fume
to see his CROSBITING and cunning shiftes
decyphered.
1586. MARLOWE, Jew of Malta, IV^,
v. Like one that is employed in catzerie
[knavery] and CROSSBITING.
1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark=ali,
p. 53 (H. Club's Repr., 1874). He [Law-
rence Crosbiter] first vsed that art which
now is named CROSBITING, and from whose
name this damned art (CROSBITING) tooke
her first call, as if Laurence Crosbiter
first inuented the same.
Cross- Buttock. 22° Cross the Damp- Pot.
1839. W. H.AINSWORTH,/.^//<I«/, 1834. AINSWORTH, Rookwood. The
p. 126, ed. 1840. 'The devil,' ejaculated mill is o'er, the GROSSER crost, The
Jonathan. ' Here's a CROSS-BITE.' loser's won, the vinner's lost !
CROSS-BUTTOCK, subs, (athletics').
— A peculiar throw in wrestling.
Also used as a verb and verbal
subs.
1690. D'URFBY, Collins Walk, c.
ii. , p. 74. When th' hardy Major, skilled
in Wars, To make quick end of fight pre-
pares, By Strength or'e BUTTOCK CROSS to
nawl him, And with a trip i' th' Inturn
maul him.
1742. ' Handbill,' in P. Egan's Boxf
ana, vol. I., p. 45. I doubt not but I shall
prove the truth of what I have asserted, by
pegs, darts, hard blows, falls, and CROSS-
BUTTOCKS.
1760. SMOLLETT, L. Greaves, vol. II.,
ch. viii. lie was on his legs again . . .
but, instead of accomplishing his purpose,
he received a CROSS-BUTTOCK.
1836. M. SCOTT, Cringles Log, ch.
xii. While the old woman keelhauled me
with a poker on one side, he jerked at me
on the other, until at length he gave me a
regular CROSS-BUTTOCK.
1860. Chambers Journal, vol. XIII.,
p. 347. He is initiated into all the mys-
teries of ' hitting ' and ' counterhitting,'
' stopping,' and ' infighting,' ' the suit in
chancery,' and the CROSS-BUTTOCK.'
CROSS-CHAP. — See CROSS, subs.,
sense 2.
CROSS-COVE. — See CROSS, subs.,
sense 2.
CROSS-CRIB, subs, (thieves' and
vagrants'). — A thieves' hotel.
[From CROSS (q.v., suds., sense
2), a thief, + CRIB (q.v., subs.,
sense 2), a place of abode.]
CROSS- DRUM, subs, (thieves').— A
thieves' tavern. [From CROSS
(q.v., subs., sense 2), a thief, +
DRUM, a house or lodging.]
GROSSER, subs, (sporting). — One
who arranges or takes part in
a CROSS (q.v., subs., sense i).
CROSS-FAN or CROSS-FAM, subs.
(thieves'). — Robbery from the
person done CROSS-FAMMED, that
is, with one hand (FAM) across,
and dissembling the action of, the
other.
c. 1869. Broadside Ballad, ' The Chick -
aleary Cove.' Off to Paris I shall go, to
show a thing or two, To the 'dipping
blokes ' what hangs about the caffies, How
to do a CROSS-FAN for a 'super' or a
' slang.'
Verb (thieves'). — To rob from
the person. — See subs.
CROSS-KID or CROSS-QUID, verb
(thieves'). — To question ; cross-
examine. [KlD = to quiz; hoax,
or jest.] Fr. , faire la jactance ;
also faire saigner du nez.
1879. J. W. HORSLEY, \nMacmillaris
Mag., XL., 502. A reeler [policeman]
came to the cell and CROSS-KIDDED (ex-
amined) me.
CROSS-MAN. — See CROSS, subs.,
sense 2.
CROSS -PATCH, subs, (colloquial).—
An ill - natured, ill - tempered
person. As in the old nursery
rhyme :
CROSS-PATCH, Draw the latch, Sit by
the fire and spin.— Lit.
Not mentioned in Ash.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue.
CROSS-PATCH : a peevish boy or girl.
1841. Comic Almanack, p. 258. Miss
Pigeon's trying to look shy, He's calling her
CROSSPATCH !
CROSS THE DAMP-POT, verbal phr.
(tailors'). — To cross the Atlantic.
— Cf., BIG DRINK, DAMP-POT,
PUDDLE, and HERRING-POND.
Crow.
221
Crowner.
CROW, subs. (thieves'). — i. A
confederate on watch whilst
another steals. Generally a man,
but occasionally a woman acts as
a CROW ; the latter is also called
a CANARY (q.v.t subs., sense 4).
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, Lon. Lab. and
Lon. Poor, IV., 286. One keeps a look-
out to see there is no person near to detect
them. This person is termed a 'CROW.'
If anyone should be near, the 'CROW' gives
a signal, and then decamps.
1862. Comhill Mag., VI., 648. Oc-
casionally they | women] assist at a burg-
lary . . . remaining outside and keeping
watch ; they are then called CROWS.
1889. Answers, 18 May, p. 390, col.
2. A CROW (confederate) is next planted
outside, or in an upper window, if there
be one, to give notice, by means of signals
or a cord reaching to the workers, of the
approach of a peeler or chance passer-by.
2. (common). — A piece of un-
expected luck; a 'fluke' ; generally
* a REGULAR CROW.' [Originally
billiards' in which it = a hazard
not played for, i.e., a 'fluke': no
doubt a corruption of the Fr.
raccroc.'} A French equivalent is
mettre dans le mille.
To EAT CROW. — See BROILED
CROW.
A CROW TO PLUCK, TO PULL,
Or TO PICK WITH ONE, phr.
(colloquial). Something demand-
ing explanation : a misunderstand-
ing to clear ; a disagreeable matter
to settle. Sometimes, A BONE TO
PICK, etc.
1593. SHAKSPEARE, Comedy of
Errors, iii., i. If a crow help us in, sir-
rah, We'll PLUCK A CROW TOGETHER.
1599. NASHE, Lenten Stuffe, in wks.
V., 302. So I coulde PLUCKE A CROWE
WYTH Poet Martiall for calling it putre
halec.
1659. HOWELL, Proverbs. I have a
GOOSE TO PLUCK WITH YOU.
1664. BUTLER, Hudibras, pt, II., 2.
If not, resolve before we go, That YOU AND
I MUST PULL A CROW.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue.
To PLUCK A CROW : To reprove anyone
for a fault committed ; to settle a dispute.
1819. SCOTT, Bride of Lammer-
moor, ch. xv. If these Ravenswood cases
be called over the coals in the House of
Peers, you will find that the Marquis will
have A CROW TO PLUCK WITH YOU.
CROWD, subs, (old).— A fiddle.
CROWDER, subs, (theatrical).— I. A
large audience.
1883. Rejeree, 18 March, p. 3, col. 2.
If the proprietors want, in the way of
audiences, to be able to boast of
CROWDERS, they should take care to avoid
giving pain.
2. (old).— A fiddler.
CROW- EATER, subs, (colonial).— A
lazybones who prefers subsist-
ing upon what he can pick up,
as the crows do, to putting
himself to the trouble of working
for it. For synonyms, see LOAFER.
CROW-FAIR, su&s.,(o]d). — A gather-
ing of clergymen.
CROWN, verb (thieves').— To in-
spect a window with a view to
operations.
CROWN AND FEATHERS, subs. phr.
(venery). — The female pudendum.
For synonyms, see MONOSYL-
LABLE.
CROWNER, subs, (old colloquial). —
A coroner. [A corruption of
' coroner.']
1596. SHAKSPEARE, Hamlet, Act v.,
Sc. i. Sec. Cl. The CROWNER hath sat
on her, and finds it Christian burial.
1599. NASHE, Lenten Stuffe, in wks.
V., 220. And if any drowne themselues
in them, their CROWNERS sir vpon them.
1835. HALIBURTON, Clockmaker,
3 S., ch. ii. You'll be to Connecticut
afore they can wake up the CROWNER and
summon a juiy.
Crown-Office.
222
Crummy.
CROWN-OFFICE, subs. (old). — The
head. For synonyms, see CRUM-
PET. Quoted by Grose [1785].
CROW'S-FOOT, subs, (thieves'). —
The Government broad arrow :
also (in //.) wrinkles at the out-
side corners of the eyes.
CRUEL or CRUELLY, adj. and adv.
(colloquial). — Extremely ; very ;
great. A fashionable intensitive ;
an Americanism by survival.
Cf., AWFUL and BEASTLY.
1662. PEPVS, Diary i 31 July. Met
Captain Brown, of the ' Rosebush,' at
which he was CRUEL angry. Ibid, 1666-7,
21 Feb. W. Batten denies all, but is
CRUEL mad.
1848. BARTLETT, Diet, of Ameri-
canisms, p. 170. Oh, doctor, I am
powerful weak, but CRUEL easy.
CRUELTY-VAN or BOOBY-HUTCH,
subs, (common). — A four-wheeled
chaise.
CRUG, subs. (Christ's Hospital). —
I. At Hertford, a crust ; in the
London school, crust and crumb
alike.
1820. LAMB, Elia (Ch risfs Hospital),
p. 322, wks. [ed. 18^2]. He had his tea
and hot rolls in a morning, while we were
battening upon our quarter of a penny
loaf— our CRUG.
2. (Christ's Hospital). — A
BLUE ; especially an ' old boy.'
1877. BLANCH, Blue Coat Boys, p.
. 80. All CRUGS will well remember, etc.
CRUGANALER, subs. (Christ's Hos-
pital). A biscuit given on St.
Matthew's Day. [Orthography
dubious. Blanch inclines to the
following derivation : * The bis-
cuit had once something to do
with those nights when bread and
beer, with cheese, were substi-
tuted for bread-and-butter and
milk. Thence the term "crug
and aler." The only argument
against this is the fact that the
liquid was never dignified with
the name of ale, but was in-
variably called " the swipes."
By another derivation = " hard
as nails. " It is then spelt CRUGGY-
NAILER.']
CRUGGY, adj. (Christ's Hospital). —
Hungry. [From CRUG (^.z/.).]
CRUISERS, subs. (old). — i. Beggars,
or highway spies : ' those who
traversed the road,' says Grose,
* to give intelligence of a booty ' ;
also, rogues ' ready to snap up
any booty that may offer.'
2. in. sing, (common). — Astreet-
, walker.
CRUMB, subs, (military). — A pretty
woman. Cf., CRUMMY, adj.,
senses I and 2.
CRUMB AND CRUST MkH,subs.phr.
(common).— A baker. Cf., BURN-
CRUST and MASTER OF THE
ROLLS. Fr., un marc hand de
larton.
CRUMBS. — See PICK UP ONE'S
CRUMBS and CHATES.
CRUMMY, adj. (popular). — i. Fat ;
plump ; well-developed. Espe-
cially said of high-bosomed and
full-figured women : e.g., a
CRUMMY piece of goods. [From
a provincialism, crum or crom =
to stuff, whence CRUMMY = fat or
well stuffed.] Fr., fort en mie
(an almost literal translation) ;
elle a de (a; Sp. , carrilludo =
plump-faced.
1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5 ed ).
CRUMMY (A.) : . . . also fat, rich, plump,
or fleshy.
Cnimmy-Doss. 223
Crumpet.
1819. T. MOORE, Tom Crib's Memo-
rial to Congress^ p. 14. For they saw,
notwithstanding Crib's honest endeavour,
To train down the CRUMMY, 'twas
monstrous as ever !
1828. JON. BEE, Pict. of London^
p. 60. A nice, CRUMMY, young woman,
who seemed surprised and interested at
his situ?tion.
1843. DICKENS, Martin Chuzzleiuit,
ch. xxix., p. 289. ' There's the remains of
a fine woman about Sairah. Poll, ,
Top much CRUMB, you know,' said Mr.
Bailey ; ' too fat, Poll.'
1865. HENRY KINGSLEY, TheHillyais
and the Burtons. You're CRUMMY and I
ain't a going to deny it. But you ain't
what I'd call fat.
2. (American). — Comely.
Cf., sense i.
3. (thieves' and soldiers'). —
Lousy.
4. (thieves'). — Plump in the
pockets. [Probably an extended
use of sense I.]
CRUMMY-DOSS, subs, (thieves'). —
A lousy bed. [From CRUMMY
(q.v., sense 3), lousy, + DOSS
(y.v.), a bed.]
CRUMP, subs. (Winchester College).
— A hard hit ; a fall. Used also
as a verb in very much the same
sense as to COB (q.v.). Cf.,
BARTER.
CRUMPET, subs, (common).— The
head.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Brain-
pan; nut; chump; jazey; steeple;
tib or tibby ; weather - cock ;
turnip ; upper extremity ; top
end ; twopenny ; upper storey ;
canister ; attic ; garret ; costard ;
sconce ; bonce ; nob ; lolly; lobb ;
knowledge-box ; block ; cocoa-
nut ; Crown-Office ; calabash ;
top-knot ; crust ; chimney-pot ;
onion ; chevy ; cockloft ; top-flat ;
gable ; pumpkin ; hat-peg ; bil-
liard ball ; upper-crust ; mazzard ;
cabaza ; dome.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Le mi-
chaud (thieves') ; un caillou (pop-
ular ; properly a pebble or flint) ;
une baigneuse (thieves') ; un bap-
teme (popular) ; une cafetiere
(thieves' and vagrants') ; une
facade (popular) ; une armoire ct
glace (popular) ; une bille (popu-
lar : properly a billiard ball) ; un
beguin (popular) ; une citrouille
or un citrouillard (thieves' : liter-
ally a pumpkin or gourd) ; un
citron (thieves') ; une ardoise (pop-
ular) ; un coco (popular : literally
a cocoa-nut) ; une calebasse (pop-
ular = a calabash) ; une cocarcte
(popular : properly a cocade) ; un
caisson (common : literally a chest
or locker); u necoloquinte( thieves');
zm chapiteau (popular : literally a
capital) ; une balle (popular) ; un
moulede bonnet (popular : literally
a cap-mould) ; le grenier a sd
(popular : properly the [Attic]
salt-loft) ; le baldaquin (a canopy) ;
la boule (popular : the bowl, ball,
or sconce) ; une ciboule (popular :
properly a scallion, green onion,
or eschalot) ; la boussole (familiar :
in nautical phraseology, the com-
pass) ; la pomme (popular and
thieves') ; le tesson (roughs') ; la
bobine (popular : literally a bobbin
or spool) ; la poire (popular) ; la
boite au sel (familiar : the [Attic]
salt-box) ; la boite a sai dines
(popular == sardine box); la boite
a surprises (general : box of -sur-
prises) ; la tirelire (popular :
literally money-box) ; la hure
(properly the head of a wild
boar) ; la gouache (popular) j la
noisette (popular :t literally nut) ;
le char (popular) ; le reservoir
(popular : reservoir or cistern) ;
le bourrichon (popular); la goupine
Crumpet-face.
224
Crush.
(thieves') ; la tourte (popular :
properly tart or fruit pie) ; la
tranche (thieves' = chunk (or
'chump' of wood) j le irognon
(popular) ; la guitare (common) ;
la guimbarde (popular : properly
a Jew's harp) ; le soliveau (popu-
lar ; properly a small joist) ; le
bobechon (popular) j la bobinasse
(popular) ; le kiosque (familiar) ;
le vol-au-vent (general) ; f omnibus
(common) ; la sorbonne (see re-
marks under BALMY, sense 2) ;
la caboche (possibly a language
word) ; le scufflet (popular : liter-
ally bellows ; also the head of a
carriage) ; le jambonneau (popu-
lar : properly a small ham) ; le
schako (popular).
GERMAN SYNONYM. Kiefel.
ITALIAN SYNONYMS. Chimla
or ciiirla (a popular term) ; elmo
(literally a helmet) ; borella (pro-
perly a ball) ; grinta (in orthodox
Italian, ringworm of the scalp).
SPANISH SYNONYMS. Chime-
nea (fern. ; literally a chimney.
Se le subid el humo d la chimenea,
— the smoke has got into his
head ; said of one who is affected
with drink) ; cholla ( fern. ) ; cabe-
zorro (mas. ; a big head, an aug-
mentative oicabeza) ; caletre(mas. ;
an abusive term, properly un-
derstanding, judgment, discern-
ment) ; campanario (mas. ; pro-
perly a belfry).
BALMY IN ONE'S CRUMPET.
— See BALMY, sense 2, and
the foregoing.
CRU M PET- FACE, subs, (common). —
A pock-pitted face.— See CRIB-
BAGE-FACE.
CRUMPET-SCRAMBLE, subs, (popu-
lar).— A tea party ; TEA-FIGHT,
MUFFIN-WORRY, MUFFIN-FIGHT,
BITCH-PARTY or COOKY • SHINE
(g.V.),
1864. Derby Day, p. 16. There are
men who do not disdain muffin-worries
and CRUMPET-SCRAMBLES.
CRUMPLER, subs, (common). — i.
A cravat.
2. (acrobats'). — See quot.
1874. G. A. LAWRENCE, Hagarene,
ch. xxxviii. Pete knew how to fall as well
as any acrobat, and thought no more of
a common ' CRUMPLER,' than ordinary
hunting folks do of a ' peck ' or stumble.
CRUSH, subs, (colloquial). — A
fashionable name for any large
social gathering.
1854. WHYTE MELVILLE, General
Bounce, ch. xiii. We fear he had rather
go to a CRUSH at Lady Dinadam's than sup
with Boz.
1872. Pall Mall Gaz., 23 June. It
would possibly be found that one week of
political reunions, concerts, balls, and
CRUSHES would be as disastrous in its
effects as two months of absinthe drinking.
1890. H. D. TRAILL, Tea Without
Toast. ' Saturday Songs,' p. 100. It ap-
peared to us a feast wouldn't help the cause
the least, And we settled that to give a
CRUSH at nine Would be greatly more effec-
tual, and far more intellectual, Than at six
o'clock to, greatly daring, dine.
Verb (general). — To run away;
to decamp. For synonyms, see
AMPUTATE and SKEDADDLE.
To CRUSH DOWN SIDES, verbal
phr. (Northern).— To keep tryst ;
also to run to la place of safety.
TO CRUSH or BURST A POT,
CUP, or BOTTLE, /Ar. (old).— To
drink (generally in company).
See CRACK A BOTTLE. [From the
Italian crosciare — to decant.]
Shakspeare, in The Taming of the
Shrew, induction, Sc. I, uses
BURST in a similar sense to
CFACK and CRUSH.
Crusher.
225
Cry.
1592. Defence of Conny-catching, in
Greene's wks., xi., 43. If euer I brought
my Conny but to CRUSH A POTTE OF ALE
with mee.
1595. SHAKSPEARE, Romeo and
Juliet, Act I., Sc. 2. And if you be not of
the house of Montagues, I pray, come and
CRUSH A CUP of wine.
1822. SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel,
ch. vii. I CRUSHED A QUART with that
jolly boy Jenkin.
CRUSHER, subs, (popular). — i. A
policeman. [Possibly from the
slang verb to CRUSH = to run.
CRUSH ! was once a favourite
signal of the ' pea and thimble '
and other race-course sharpers,
the meaning being : ' Run ! the
police ! ' The word came into
general use, and was ultimately
converted into CRUSHER = a
policeman.] For synonyms, see
BEAK, sense i, and COPPER.
c. 1840. THACKERAY, The Organ-Boy's
Appeal. Though you set in Vestminster
surrounded by your CRUSHERS, Harrogant
and habsolute like the Hortocrat of hall the
Rushers.
1842. Punch, vol. II., p. 137. ' Pro-
verbial Philosophy.' There is not one
CRUSHER who is proof against the waistcoat
pocket.
1853. Diogenes, II., 46. Here in
came [to the Court] a CRUSHER (Beg par-
don— mean usher), Dragging in a Pot-boy,
With great show of joy.
1859. SALA, Tw. Round the Clock,
5 p.m., par. 19. A CRUSHER, or policeman,
there is indeed.
1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude,
ch. iii., p. 223. Oh, that's one of the
cleverest gentlemen cracksmen out. . . .
The blooming CRUSHERS were precious
glad when they 'pinched' 'im.
2. (popular). — Anything
large, fine, or extraordinary.
[From CRUSH, to overwhelm or
subdue.] Akin to WHOPPER,
STINGER, CORKER, BOUNCER,
etc. (q.v.).
1849. THACKERAY, Pendennis, ch. iv.
She is a CRUSHER, ain't she now ?
1870. New York Herald, Jan. The
Fenians in England received rather a
CRUSHER, if I may use so slang a word,
two days ago.
CRUSHING,^/, adj. (colloquial). —
Excellent ; first-rate. For syn-
onyms, see Ai and FIZZING.
CRUST or UPPER CRUST, subs.
(common). — I. The head. For
synonyms, see CRUMPET.
UPPER-CRUST (q.v.)t also =
Society with a capital S.
CRUSTY-BEAU, subs. (old). — One
that uses paint and cosmetics
to obtain a fine complexion. —
Grose.
CRUTCH, subs, (colloquial). — The
'fork,' or inner angle of the
thigh.
CRUTCHES ARE CHEAP. — See
WOODEN-LEGS.
CRY, subs, (common). — A large
number ; a quantity. [From
CRY, a pack of dogs.] As in
Shakspeare's Coriolanus, Act iii.,
Scene 3. ' You common CRY of
curs.'
GREAT CRY AND LITTLE WOOL,
phr. (general). — Much ado about
nothing. The original text of the
proverb was, ' GREAT CRY AND
LITTLE WOOL, as the devil said
when he sheared the hogs.'
Hudibras alters it into * All cry
and no wool.'
TO CRY CARROTS AND
TURNIPS, verbal phr. (old). —
Ste quot.
1747. CHARLES JOHNSON, Highway-
men and Pyrates, p. 254. He came oft
with CRYING CARROTS AND TURNIPS, a
term which rogues use for whvoping at the
cart's arse.
C.T.A.
226
Cuckoo.
To CRY [or CALL] A GO, verbal
phr. (common). — To give in, as
one unable to proceed. An ex-
pression borrowed from cribbage
signifying that the player who
makes use of it has nothing
playable in his hand, and is
compelled to ' CRY A GO.'] Cf.,
PASS
1880. Punch's Almanack. Got three
quid ; have CRIED A GO with Fan, Game to
spend my money like a man.
To CRY CUPBOARD, verbal phr.
(common). — To be fasting, hun-
gry, BANDED (g.v.). Fr., n' avoir
rien dans le cornet ; avoir le buffet
vide ; and danser devant le btiffet.
1738. SWIFT, Polite Conversation
(conv. iii.), Footman. Madam, dinner's
upon the table. Col. Faith, I'm glad of
it ; my belly began to CRY CUPBOARD.
CRY MATCHES ! intj. phr.
(American). — An exclamation of
surprise. [Variously derived : ( I )
a corruption of ' Crime hatches ' ;
(a) CRY = XPI or Christ, no
suggestion being offered to ac-
count for ' MAI CHES ' ; and (3)
a conversion of the Fr. ere mat in,
presumably Canadian. Cf.,
CRIMINI.] Quoted in TV. and (?.,
5 S., viii., 491, andix., 55,318.
CRY OFF, verb (general).— To
retreat ; to back out from an
engagement .
1866. London Miscellany, 5 May, p.
201. ' London Revelations.' ' Why this
gent told me to bid,' said the dealer, pat-
ting his tingling fingers sharply, ' and now
he wants to CRY OFF.'
TO CRY STINKING FISH. — See
STINKING FISH.
C.T.A., phr. (circus and showmen's)
— The police.
CUB or UNLICKED-CUB, subs, (col-
loquial). — An awkward, sulky
girl ; a mannerless, uncouth lout
of a boy. [In allusion to the
clumsiness of bear cubs till their
dam has 'licked them into shape.']
Cf., BEAR-LEADER.
1602. SHAKSPEARE Twelfth Night,
Act v., I., 167. Duke. O thou dissemb-
ling CUB ! what wilt thou be When time
hath sow'd a grizzle on thy case ?
1693. CONGREVE, Old Batchelor, Act
iv., Sc. 8. A country squire, with the
equipage of a wife and two daughters,
came to Mrs. Snipwell's shop while I was
there - but, oh Gad ! two such UNLICKED
CUBS !
1762. FOOTE, Liar, II., ii. I don't
reckon much upon him : for you know, my
dear, what can I do with an awkward, raw,
college CUB?
1773. O. GOLDSMITH, She Stoops to
Conquer, Act iv., Sc i. 'A poor contemp-
tible booby that would but disgrace cor-
rection.' . . . ' An insensible CUB.'
1880. A. TROLLOPE, The Dukes Child-
ren,^ ch. ix. And Tommy, you are an
uncivil young, — young, — young, — I should
say CUB if I dared, to tell me that you don't
like dining with me any day of the week.
1855. THACKERAY, Neiucomes, ch.
xxix. I don't see why that infernal
young CUB of a CHve is always meddling
in our affairs.
CUBITOPOLIS, subs, (obsolete). —
The Warwick and Eccleston
Square districts. [From the
name of the builders, see quot.,
1864.] £/!,ALBERTOPOLIS, MESO-
POTAMIA, ASIAMINOR, THE NEW
JERUSALEM, SLOPERS' ISLAND,
etc. (q.v.).
1864. The Press, 12 Nov. CUBIT-
OPOLIS received its felicitous cognomen
from Lady M or ley.
1866. E. YATES, Land at Last, ch.
iii. There are men yet living among us
whose mothers had been robbed on their
way from Ranelagh in crossing the spct,
then a dreary swampy marsh, on which
now stands the city of palaces known as
CUBITTOPOLIS.
CUCKOO, subs, (popular). — i. A
fool. For synonyms, see BUFFLE
and CABBAGE-HEAD.
Cuckoos.
227
Cuffen.
1598. SHAKSPEARE, Henry IV.,
Part I, Act i, Scene 4. O'horseback, ye
CUCKOO ; but afoot he will not budge a
foot.
2. (old). — A cuckold.
1594. SHAKSPEARE, Love's Labour
Lost, Act v, Scene 2. CUCKOO, CUCKOO,
O word of fear Unpleasing to a married
ear
3. (schoolboys'). — The penis.
For synonyms, see CREAMSTICK.
CUCKOOS, suds. (old). — Money,
For synonyms, see ACTUAL and
GILT.
1612. The Passenger of Bewvenuto.
These companions, who . . . carry the
impression and marke of the pillerie
galley, and of the halter, they call the
purse a leafe, and a fleece ; money,
CUCKOES, and aste, and crowns.
CUCKOO'S NEST, subs, (venery). —
The icais^A pudendum. For syno-
nyms, see MONOSYLLABLE.
CUCUMBER-TIME, subs, (tailors').
— The dull season. [A corres-
pondent of Notes and Queries (i
S., viii., 439) says it is of
German origin, and remarks
that many hundreds of London
tailors are of German nationality.
The German phrase is die saure
Gurken Zeit (pickled gherkin-
time). Hence, it is said, the
expression ' Tailors are vege-
tarians,' because they live now on
'cucumber' and now on 'cabbage.'
Quoted by Grose (1785).] Cf.,
quot, 1821.
1821. P. EGAN, Tom and Jerry [ed.
1890], p. 60. The chap in the corner . . .
has been chaffing Spendall . . . about
his being so CUCUMBERISH as to be com-
pelled to 'gammon the draper' [which
means when a man is without a shirt, and
is buttoned up close to his neck, with
merely a handkerchief round it to make an
appearance of cleanliness, it is termed,
'gammoning the draper.']
CUD, sttbs. (popular). — A chew of
tobacco ; a quid. [An allusion
to ' chewing the cud.']
Adj. (Winchester College). —
I. Pretty; handsome. [Thought
to be derived from kudos. ]
2. (Christ's Hospital). — Severe.
CUDDIE, subs. (Scots). — A donkey.
CUDDLING, verbal subs, (athletic
and pugilistic). — Wrestling.
CUDDY, adj. (Christ's Hospital).—
Hard ; difficult ; said of a lesson.
Also Hertfordice for PASSY (q.v.\
[There is a common hard biscuit
called a ' cuddy-biscuit ' which
doubtless has this derivation.]
CUE, -verb (thieves'). — To swindle
on credit.
CUFF, subs, (old).— i. A foolish
old man. [Probably a contrac-
tion of CUFFIN (q.v.).
1678. C. COTTON, Scarronides, bk. I.,
p. 3 (ed. 1725). The lustiest Carles there-
abouts. Rich CUFFS and very sturdy
Louts.
1708. CENTLIVRE, Susie Body, Act i.
A very extraordinary Bargain I have made
truly, if she should be really in Love with
this old CUFF now.
1760. COLMAN, Polly Honeycombe,
in wks. (1777) IV., 38. They are just
here ! ten to one the old CUFF may not
stay with her : I'll pop into this closet.
2. (tailors'). — A religious man,
either real or sham.
To CUFF ANTHONY, phr. —
See ANTHONY.
TO BEAT or CUFF JONAS, phr.
= TO BEAT THE BOOBY or GOOSE
(q.v. under BEAT).
CUFFEN. — See CUFFIN.
differ.
228
Cull.
CUFFER, subs, (military). — I. A
lie ; an exaggerated and im-
probable story. — See quot. , under
TO SPIN COFFERS, and for
synonyms, see WHOPPER.
2. (American thieves'). — A
man ; also CUFFIR. [Cf., COFE,
COVE, and CUFFIN, from one of
which the American form is
doubtless derived.]
1859. MAT SELL, Vocabulum, or
Rogue's Lexicon, s.v.
TO SPIN CUFFERS, phr. —
To tell extremely improbable
stories ; to yarn ; TO DRAW THE
LONG BOW (q.V.).
1888. Colonies and India, 14 Nov.
The Australian youth can develop the art
of SPINNING CUFFERS very successfully on
his own account, without any adventitious
assistance from a passing Minister of Pub-
lic Instruction.
CUFFIN, CUFFEN, orCuFFiNG,.r«fo.
(Old Cant).— A man.
1567. HARMAN, Caveat, s.v.
1857. Punch, 31 Jan., p. 49. 'Dear
Bill, this Stone-jug.' In the day-rooms the
CUFFINS [warders] we queer at our ease,
And at Darkmans we run the rig just as we
please.
QUEER-CUFFIN, subs. (old). —
A magistrate. [From QUEER,
an old canting term for bad, +
CUFFIN, a man ; literally a bad
man — from a rogue's point of
view. Some of the old canting
terms are curious enough : e.g.,
' quyer crampringes ' = bolts or
fetters ; ' quyer kyn ' = a prison
house.] For synonyms, see BEAK,
sense 2.
1609. DEKKER, Lantherne and Can-
dle-light [ed. Gros., III., p. 203]. To the
QUIER CUFFING WC bing.
1837. DISRAELI, Venetia, p. 71.
The gentry cove will be romboyld by his
dam said a third gypsy. ' QUEER CUFFIN '
[magistrate or queer man] will be the word
if we. don't tour.
CUFF-SHOOTER, ^j. (theatrical). —
A beginner ; one who gives him-
self ' airs ' ; literally one who
shoots his cuffs : having a greater
regard for the display of his linen
than for his work as an actor.
CULE, CULL, CULING, CULLING,
verb and verbal subs, (thieves'). —
To purloin from the seats of car-
riages ; the act of snatching hand-
bags and other impedimenta there-
from. [Either an abbreviation
and corruption of RETICULE, or
from CULL, to gather.]
1857. SNOWDEN, Mag. Assistant,
3ed., p. 444. Snatching reticules from a
carriage — c u LI NG.
CULL or CULLY, subs. (old). — A
man ; companion ; partner. Spe-
cifically, a fool ; one tricked or
imposed upon. Grose seems to
make a distinction, for he quotes
CULL = ' a man honest or other-
wise, ' and CULLY = ' a fop, fool,
or dupe to women,' in which sense
it was current in the seventeenth
century. Thus Rochester (in
Satire on the Times}, ' But pimp-
fed Ratcliffe's not a greater CULLY.
— See also quot., 1771. [Prob-
ably a contraction of CULLION
(Fr., couillon\ It., coglione}; but
derived by Annandale from the
Sp. Gypsy chulai, a man ; Turkish
Gypsy, khulai, a gentleman.]
1671. R. HEAD, English Kogue, pt.
I., ch. v., p. 48 (1874). CULLE : a sap-
headed fellow.
1676. A Warning for- Housekeepers.
As we walk along the street, We bite the
CULLEY of his cole.
1693. CONGREVE, Old Batchelor,
Act Hi., Sc. i. Man was by nature
woman's CULLY made : We never are but
by ourselves betrayed.
1712. ARBUTHNOT, Hist, of John
Bull, pt. IV., ch. i. I won't let him make
me over, by deed and indenture, as his
lawful CULLY.
Culls.
229
Cunnilinge*
1748. T. DVCHE, Dictionary (5 ed.).
CULL (s.) : a cant word for a man, either
good or bad, but generally means one that
a wench has picked up for some naughty
pur
1760. JOHNSTON, Chrysal, ii., 17.
Your secret, grave, old, rich CULLS, just fit
to do business with.
1771. HENRY MACKENZIE, The Man
of Feeling^ vol. I., ch. xxvi. Harley . . .
sallied forth with a blush of triumph on
his face, without taking notice of the
sneer of the waiter who, twirling the watch
in his hand, made him a profound bow at
the door, and whispered to a girl who stood
in the passage something in which the
word CULLY was honoured with a particular
emphasis.
1825. SCOTT, St. Ronan's Well, ch.
xxx. ' Na, Na,' answered the boy : ' he is
a queer auld CULL, he disna frequent wi'
other folk.'
1830. BULWER LYTTON, Paul Clif-
ford, p. 75 (ed. 1854). A famous CULL is
my friend Attie — an old soldier — has seen
the world, and knows what is what;
1839. W. H. AIN
pard (1889), p. 14. Capital trick of the
CULL in the cloak to make another person's
brain stand the BRUNT for his own —
capital !
1889. Puck's Library, April, p. 18.
Showman : Look-a-here, CULLY, yer don't
'xpect ter git a lecture on nat'l history 'n'a
free ticket ter the antipoads fer a quarter,
do yer ?
RUM CULL, suds, (theatrical). —
The manager of a theatre ; also
called a CULLY-GORGER.
CULLS, subs. (old). — The testes.
b. 1574, d. 1637. BEN JONSON. Claw
a churl by the CULLS, and he'll shite in
your fist.
CULLY-GORGER, sttbs. (theatrical).
— The manager of a theatre ; a
companion or brother actor.
[CULLY (q.V.} = 3. man + GORGER
(?.v.), a swell, employer, or
boss ; literally a well - dressed
man.]
CULLY-SHANGY,«^J. (common). —
Copulation. For synonyms, see
GREENS.
18(?). CAREY, Life in Paris, p. 276,
s.v.
CULMINATE, verb (University: ob-
solete).— To mount a coach-box.
1803. Gradus ad Cantabrigiam, s.v.
CULTY-GUN, subs, (venery). — The
penis. For synonyms, see CREAM-
STICK.
CUM-ANNEXIS,.mAr. (West Indian).
— One's belongings ; specially ap
plied to one's wife and children.
[In allusion to a legal locution
connected with land transfer in
Demerara. The oui lying farms
of estates come under this general
description ; e.g., Belair, (a well-
known property) CUM ANNEXIS
includes, amongst others, estates
formerly known as La Penitence,
Turkeyen, Cuming's Lodge, In-
Guai.ry, <?<"<%, and in official docu-
ments this congees of estates is
spoken of as Eclair CUM AN::FXIS.]
CUMMER, subs, (common). — An
intimate. For synonyms, see
CHUM.
CUNDUM, subs. (old). — An obsolete
appliance worn in the act of
coition, to prevent infection :
so-called from the name of its
inventor, a colonel in the Guards,
temp., Charles II. : the modern
equivalent is known as a FRENCH
LETTER (q.V.).
1767. ROCHESTER, ROSCOMMON, AND
DORSET, A Panegyric upon Cundum, p.
208. Happy the man who in his pocket
keeps, Whether with green or scarlet riband
bound, A well-made CUNDUM.
CUNNILINGE, verb (venery). — To
tongue a woman. [Latin ctmni-
lingus, a form which occurs in
Martial, from cunnus = \he female
pudendum + lingo. Cf. , Ti P THE
VELVET.
Cunnilingist.
230
Cups.
CUNNILINGIST, subs, (venery).— A
man (or woman) addicted to the
practice of tonguing the female
pudendum.
CUNNY-HAUNTED, adj. phr. (popu-
lar). — Lecherous.
CUNNY-THUMBED, adj. (old). — i.
Said of a person who doubles the
fist with the thumb turned in-
wards.
2. (schoolboys'). — Said of
one who shoots his marble — as
at ring-taw or shoot hole — with
the first phalange of the thumb
from the second of the forefinger,
instead of with the knuckle of the
thumb from the first of the fore-
finger.
CUNT, subs, (common). — The fe-
male ptidendum ; T/aL;n V««»«j.
A langiid^e word, but vulgar in
usage. Diminutives of varying de-
grees are CUNNICLE, CUNNIKIN,
CUNTKIN, CUNTLET, CUNNY.
Derivatives, the result of an
obvious play upon words (old),
are cuNNY-CATCHERand CUNNY-
BURROW FERRET (Urquhart), for
which see CREAM-STICK ; CUNNY-
HUNTER = a whoremonger ; and
CUNNY-SKIN (Durfey), for which
see FLEECE. For synonyms, see
MONOSYLLABLE.
1383. CHAUCER, The Millers Tale,
Full prively he caught her by the QUEINT,
And sayde Ywis but if I have my^ will,
For derne love of thee, lemman, I spill.
1622. FLETCHER, Spanish Curate.
They write sunt with a C, which is abomin-
able.
1647-80. ROCHESTER, The Royal
Angler. However weak and slender in
the string, Bait it with CUNT, and it will
hold a king.
1768. STERNE, The Sentimental
Journey, So that, when I stretched
out my hand, I caught bold of the fille-de-
chambre's .
CUNT-PENSIONER, subs, (vulgar). —
A male keep ; one who lives by
the prostitution of a wife, a
mistress, a daughter, or any other
female connection.
CUNT-STRUCK, adj. (vulgar). —
Enamoured of women: who may,
in turn, be either COCK-SMITTEN
or PRICK-STRUCK (q.v.).
CUP-AND-SAUCER PLAYER, subs,
phr. (theatrical). — A term of
derision applied to the players
associated with the late T. W.
Robertson's comedies.
CUPBOARD LOVE, subs. phr. (popu-
lar). — Interested affection : a
variant of the saw that 'the
way to a man's heart is through
. his stomach.' C/., RICE-CHRIS-
TIAN.
c. 1661. Poor Robin [HERRICK]. A
CUPBOARD LOVE is seldom true, A love
sincere is found in few.
178 1. Miss SEWARD, Letters [ed.
1811], vol. II., p. 103. This last and long-
enduring passion [of Dr. Johnson] for Mrs.
Thrale was, however, composed perhaps
of CUPBOARD LOVE, Platonic love, and
vanity tickled and gratified.
1885. Giits Own Paper, VI., 830.
When tea-time comes and milk, she's not
above Increasing her caresses, till we hear
A whisper now and then of CUPBOARD
LOVE.
CUPID. — See FANCY JOSEPH.
CUPS. IN ONE'S CUPS, adv. phr.
1 colloquial).— Drunk. Cf., CUP-
SHOT, and for synonyms, see
SCREWED.
1593. NASHE, Christ's Teares, in wks.
IV., 228 (Grosart). Those whom the
Sunne sees not in a month together, I
nowe see IN THEIR CUPPES and their
jolitie.
1688. SHADWELL, Sq. of Alsatia
III., in wks. (1720), iv., 64. I shall take
my leave : you are IN YOUR CUPS : you
will wish you had heard me.
Cup-Shot.
231
Cure.
Itias. DRYDEN, Juvenal, x 288.
Which IN His CUPS the bowsy poet sings.
1712. ARBUTHNOT, History of John
Bull, pt. II., ch. iv. She used to come
home IN HER CUPS, and break the china
and the locking-glasses.
1837. BARHAM, /. L. (Brothers of
Birchington). Gets tipsy whenever he
dines or he sups, And is wont to come
quarrelsome home IN HIS CUPS.
1864. MARK LEMON, Jest Book, p.
185 [of one remarkable at once for Bac-
chanalian devotion and large and startling
eyes], ' I always know when he has been
IN HIS CUPS by the state of his saucers.'
CUP-SHOT, adj. (old). — Drunk.
1639. FULLER, Holy War, bk. III.,
ch. xvi. The spring-tide of their mirth
so drowned their souls that the Turks
coming in upon them cut every one of
their throats, to the number of twenty
thousand, and quickly they were stabbed
with the sword -that were CUP-SHOT before.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
CUP-TOSSER, subs, (common). —
See quot.
1868. BREWER, Phrase and Fable,
s.v. CUP TOSSER : a juggler (French
joueur de gobelef). The old symbol for a
juggler was a goblet The phrase and
symbol are derived from the practice of
jugglers who toss in the air, twist on a
stick, and play all sorts of tricks with gob-
lets or cups.
CURATE, subs, (common). — A small
poker, or TICKLER (q.v.), used to
save a better one ; also a pocket-
handkerchief in actual use as
against one worn for show. The
better article is called a RECTOR.
Similarly when a tea-cake is split
and buttered, the bottom half,
which gets the more butter, is
called the RECTOR, and the other,
the CURATE.
CURB, verb (old). — To steal. For
synonyms, see PRIG.
1615. GREENE, Thieves Falling Out
(Harl. Misc., VIII., 380). Though you
can foyst, nip, prig, lift, CURBE. and use
the black art, yet you cannot ciossbite
without the helpe of a woman.
CURBSTONE-BROKER, subs.
GUTTER-SNIPE.
See
CURBSTONE-SAILOR, subs, (popu-
lar).— A prostitute. For syno-
nyms, see BARRACK-HACK and
TART, and cf., CRUISER, sense 2.
CURE, subs, (common). — An eccen-
tric ; a tool ; also a funny fellow.
Originally applied in many con-
nections, see quot.
1856. Punch, vol. XXXI., p. 201.
WHAT'S A CURE.
Punch has no mission to repeat
The Slang he hears along the street,
But when a curious phrase he seizes,
Pimch does — as always — what he pleases.
He finds then in the following word
No merit save that it's absurd,
But as it's likely to endure
He asks a question, ' What's a CURE ' ?
He heard upon a river boat
The steersman told to move his coat,
The fellow grunted like a boor,
The captain said, ' Well you're a CURE,'
The mud was thick, the crossing clean —
A well-dressed man, genteel of mien —
Walked through the first (he might be
poor}—
The sweeper muttered ' He's a CURE.'
Two youths talked 'chaff' (in phrase
polite),
Each asked where 'tother slept last night,'
'Me? Up a spout.' 'Me? Down a sewer.'
The first : ' Ain't you a precious CURE.'
A child more apt to eat than spell
Espied his little sweetheart Nell :
Embraced her with affection pure,
And cried, ' You darling little CURE.'
Before a shop stood maidens two
Where fine mock diamonds mocked their
view :
' Oh, Julia ! That's the Koh-i-noor.'
' That ! ' Julia said, ' You silly CURE.'
Lastly, he heard the word applied
To Lord Mayor Finnis in his pride ;
A female shouted, ' Well I'm s«re !
Call him a mayor — he looks a CURE.'
Thus having heard the word he mentions
Spoken with seven distinctions,
Punch doth the slangy world adjure
To state whence derivation ' CURE '
Curious.
232 Curse of Scotland.
CURIOUS. To DO CURIOUS,
verbal phr. (common). — To act
strangely.
CURL. OUT OF CURL, adv. phr.
(common). — Out of sorts ; out of
condition.
To CURL UP, verbal phr.
(familiar). — To be silent ; to
'shut up.'
To CURL ONE'S HAIR, verb,
phr. (common).— To administer
chastisement ; to ' go for ' one.
To CURL ONE'S LIVER or TO
HAVE ONE'S LIVER CURLED,
verbal phr. (common). — To make
one feel intensely. Cf., TURN
THE LIVER (q.V.}.
1877. S.L.CLEMENS ('Mark Twain'),
Life on the Mississippi, pp. 414-415. This
is sport that makes the body's VERY LIVER
CURL with enjoyment.
CURLE, subs. (old). — Clippings of
money. — Grose.
CURL PAPER, subs, (common). —
Paper for the W.C.; toilet paper ;
' wipe - bummatory ' (Urquhart),
or ' sanitary ' paper ; bunv
f odder ; bumf; ammunition.
CURLYCUES or CAR LICU ES, subs.
(common). — Fantastic ornaments
worn on the person or used in
architecture ; also, by implica-
tion, a strange line of conduct.
Used by Burns in The Merry
Muses.
1858. Home Journal, 24 July.
Architects have a wonderful predilection
for all manner of CURLYCUES and breaks
in your roo£
CURRANTS'AND PLUMS, subs. phr.
(rhyming ' slang). — A threepenny
bit ; or THRUMS (q.v.).
CURRENCY, subs. (Australian).—
A colonist born in Australia,
those of English birth being
STERLING (q.v.). [In allusion to
the colonial and home mintages,
which, identical in value, present
one or two strongly marked
points of difference.]
1856. C. READE, Never Too Late,
ch. Ixxxv. When gold was found in Vic-
toria he crossed over to that port and
robbed. One day hejrobbed the tent of an
old man, a native of the colony, who was
digging there with his son, a lad of fifteen.
Now these CURRENCY lads are very sharp
and determined .,
CURSE. NOT TO CARE or BE
WORTH A CURSE, phr. (common).
— To care or be worth little — or
nothing at all. [CURSE may
either = ( I ) the wild cherry ; or
(2) a corruption of A.S. cerse,
watercress. C/., CONTINENTAL
(q.v.).
1362. WILLIAM LANGLAND, Vision
of Piers Ploughman. Wisdom and witt
nowe is NOT WORTH A KERSE, But if it be
carded with cootis as clothers Kemble their
woole.
1838. DICKENS, Nicholas Nickleby,
ch. xvi., p. 124. With regard to such
questions . . . which one can't be expected
tO CARE A CURSE ABOUT.
187(?). G. R. SIMS, Dagonet Ballads
(/« the Workhouse). I CARE NOT A CURSE
for the guardians.
CURSE OF GOD, subs. phr. (old). —
A cockade. — Lexicon Bala-
tronicum [l8li].
CURSE OF SCOTLAND, subs. phr.
(popular). — The nine of
diamonds. [The suggested deri-
vations are inconclusive. The
locution has nothing to do with
Culloden and the Duke of
Cumberland, for the card was
r cknamed the JUSTICE-CLERK,
in allusion to the Lord Justice-
Clerk Ormistone, who, for his
severity in suppressing the
Cursitor.
233
Cushion- Smite* .
Rebellion of 1715, was called the
CURSE OF SCOTLAND. Other
suggestions are : (i) That it is
derived from the game of Pope
Joan, the nine of diamonds there
being called the ' pope,' of whom
the Scotch have always stood in
horror. (2) The word ' curse '
is a corruption of cross, and the
nine of diamonds is so arranged
as to form a St. Andrew's Cross.
(3) That it refers to the arms of
Dalrymple, Earl of Stair (viz., or,
on a saltire azure, nine lozenges
of the field), who was held in
abhorrence for the Massacre of
Glencoe ; or to Colonel Packer,
who attended Charles I. on
the scaffold, and had for his
arms nine lozenges conjoined,
or in the heraldic language,
GULES, a cross of lozenges.
These conflicting views were
discussed at length in Notes and
Queries, I S., i., 61, 90; iii., 22,
253> 423. 483; v., 619; 3 S.,
xii., 24, 96 ; 48., vi., 194, 289 ;
also, see Chambers' Encyclopaedia.'}
1791. Gent. Mag., vol. LXI., p. 141.
The Queen of Clubs is ... called Queen
Bess . . . The Nine of Diamonds, the
CURSE OF SCOTLAND.
CURSITOR orCuRSETOR,.wfo. (old).
— A low tramp or vagabond.
[Properly, a CURSITOR (unde Cur-
sitor Street, in Chancery Lane)
was a clerk in the Court of Chan-
cery, whose business was to make
out original writs ; also a courier
or runner. From thf Latin.]
CURTAIN-RAISER, subs, (theatrical).
— A short 'piece' to bring up
the curtain and play in the house.
Fr., lever de rideau.
1889. Daily News, 2 Sept., p. 3, col.
4. Miss Grace Hawthorne is about to try
an original experiment in what are known
as CURTAIN-RAISERS.
CURTALL or CURTAIL, subs. (old). —
A vagabond and thief. — See
quots.
1560. JOHN AWDELEY, Fraternitye
of Vacabondes (1869. English Dialect
Society's Reprint), p. 4. A CURTALL is
much like to the Vpright man, but hys
authority is not fully so great. He vseth
commonly to go with a short cloke, like to
grey Friers, and his woman with him in
like liuery, which he calleth his altham if
she be hys.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue.
CURTAILS : thieves who cut off pieces of
stuff hanging out of shop windows ; the
tails of women's gowns, etc. ; also thieves
wearing short jackets.
Verb (old). — To cut off. Origi-
nally a cant word — vide
braSy and Bacchus and
1737-
CUSE, subs.( Winchester College). —
A book in which a record is kept
cf the ' marks ' in each division :
its name to dons is ' classicus
paper ' ; also used for the weekly
order.
CUSHION, verb (thieves'). — To hide
or conceal. Variants are, STALL
OFF ; STOW ; SLUM. Sp., Hacer
la agachadiza = to hide oneself.
TO DESERVE THE CUSHION,
verbal phr. (old). — On the birth
of a child a man was said TO
DESERVE THE CUSHION ; i.e.,
the symbol of rest from labour.
CUSHION-SMITER or -THUMPER,
subs, (common). — A clergyman.
[Derivation obvious.] For syno-
nyms, see DEVIL-DODGER
1843. Tw.A.CKERA.v,IrishSketchBook,
ch xx. For what a number of such loud
nothings, windy, emphatic tropes and
metaphors, spoken, not for God's glory,
but the preacher's, will many a CUSHION-
THUMPER have to answer !
1849. THACKERAY, in Scribn. Mag.,
June, 1887, p. 686. CUSHION-THUMPERS
and High and Low Church extatics.
1889. Modern Society, 19 Oct., p.
1294, col. i. On a recent occasion a
Cuss.
23*
Cut.
CUSHION-THUMPER received a challenge
from the miserable sinner whom he so
volubly denounced.
Cuss, subs. (American). — A man,
COVE, or CULL. Generally, but
not necessarily, disparaging. [Of
uncertain derivation : may be
either from ' curse ' or from ' cus-
tomer.'] For synonyms, see
COVE. Also see specific use in
quot., 1883.
1883. Daily Telegraph, 25 July, p. 2,
col. i. I'll give Tom his due, and say of
him that for flumoxing a cuss (Custom
House Officer) or working the weed, I
don't know any one he couldn't give a
chalk to and beat 'em.
1888. F. R. STOCKTON, Rudder
Grange, ch. xii. The man that lives up
this lane is a mean, stingy cuss, with a
wicked dog, and it's no good to go there.
CUSSEDNESS, subs. (American). —
Generally in such phrases as
' pure CUSSEDNESS,' the ' CUSSED-
NESS of things,' etc. Mischievous-
ness, or resolution, or courage may
be implied ; but in the Coventry
plays CURSYDNESSE signified
sheer wickedness and malignity.
18(?). COL. JOHN HAY, Song of the
Prairie Belle. Through the hot, black
breath of the burnin' boat Jim Bludsoe's
voice was heard, And they all had trust in
his CUSSEDNESS, And knowed he would
keep his word.
1886. Detroit Free Press, Aug. A
more mischievous boy never came under
my observation. Pure CUSSEDNESS was
spread out all over him.
1888. . . . Mr. Potter of Texas (&y.
ed.), p. 122. The extraordinary belief he
had of transatlantic blood - thirstiness,
scalping, and general CUSSEDNESS en-
gendered by these books.
1890. Notes and Queries, 7 S., ix.,
29 Mar., p. 244. To swear at something
when ' the CUSSEDNESS of things ' mani-
fests itself in any specially exasperating
shape seems to be recognised as a neces-
sity by a large majority of the adult male
population of the globe.
1890. Pall Mall Gaz., 22 May, p. 4,
col. 2. The cause of the difficulty is the
pestilent CUSSEDNKSS of the working man.
Cuss OUT, verb (common).— To
talk down, to FLUMMOX BY THE
LIP (q.v.).
1881. New York Times, 18 Dec.
[quoted in N. and Q., 6 S., v., 65]. He
CUSSED that fellow OUT, i.e., he annihilated
him verbally.
CUSTOMER, subs, (common). — A
man ; fellow ; cove ; cuss ; or
chap ; with a certain qualifi-
cation, e.g. An 'ugly CUSTOMER
= a dangerous opponent ; a queer
CUSTOMER = a suspicious person,
one to be suspected ; a ' rum
CUSTOMER ' = an odd fish. For
synonyms, see COVE.
1818. P. EGAN, Boxiana, I., 19.
Here . . . many an ugly CUSTOMER has
met with his match, and been frightened
in his turn,
1854. WHYTE MELVILLE, General
Bounce, ch. vi. Some of these good-look-
ing young gentlemen are ' ugly CUSTOMERS '
enough when their blood is up.
1870. London Figaro, 8 Oct. Cus-
tomers would then know the kind of
' CUSTOMERS ' of tradesmen with whom
they had to deal.
CUSTOM HOUSE-OFFiCER,.y«&r.(com-
mon). — An aperient pill. [Be-
cause it effects a clearance.] Cf.,
CHIMNEY-SWEEP.
CUT, subs, (common). — I. A stage
or degree.
1835. DICKENS, Sketches by Boz, p.
183. It looked so knowing, with the front
garden, and the green railings, and the
brass knocker, and all that— I really thought
it was a CUT above me.
1843. DICKENS, Martin Chuzzlewit,
ch. iv., p. 29. Any other man in the wide
world, I am equal to ; but Sylme is, I
frankly confess, a great many CUTS above
me.
1851. MAYHEW, London Labour and
London Poor, vol. II., p. 123. He's a CUT
above me a precious sight.
2. (popular). — A refusal to
acknowledge acquaintance, or to
associate, with another person. —
See verbal sense. A CUT DIRECT
Cut.
235
Cut.
or DEAD CUT is a conspicuous
non - acknowledgment of an
acquaintance.
1821. P. EGAN, Tom and Jerry [ed,
1890], p. 55. His acquaintances were
numerous, but they seldom lasted longer
than a few days, when he made no hesita-
tion in giving them the CUT-DIRECT.
1836. MARRYAT,/«//z^,ch.lii. He
was a noted duellist, had killed his three or
four men, and a CUT DIRECT from any per-
son was, with him, sufficient ground for
sending a friend.
3. (theatrical). — Mutilation
of the * book ' of a play, opera,
etc.
1779. SHERIDAN, The Critic., Act ii.,
Sc. 2. Puff (speaking of the mutilation of
his play) : Hey, what the plague ! — what
a CUT is here !
1883. Saturday Review, 21 April, p.
501, col. 2. Mr. Mackenzie had not only
modified the energy of the orchestra, but
had shortened the opera by some judicious
4. (general). — A snub or set-
down. Cf., sense 2.
1876. HINDLEY, Life and Adventures
of a Cheap Jack, p. 143. One of the great-
est CUTS I ever kne *' was once when a man
was speaking of Chris. Newman and saying
what a good sort he was, upon which the
other said, ' What do you mean by saying
that ? Why, d — me, sir, he never called
for a bottle of champagne in his life ! '
Adj. (old). — Tipsy ; ON THE
CUT = on the spree. For syno-
nyms, see SCREWED.
1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5 ed.).
CUT (A.) . . . also an epithet applied to
one who is drunk, as, He is deeply CUT,
that is, he is so drunk, that he can neither
stand nor go.
1830. PIERCE EGAN, Finish to Life in
London, p. 214. Terry was terribly CUT.
1848. THACKERAY, Book of Snobs, ch.
xli. I was so CUT last night, old boy !
Hopkins says to Tomkins (with amiable
confidence).
1859. Punch, vol. XXXVII., p. 22.
Our friend prone to vices you never may
see, Though he goes on the Loose, or the
CUT, or the Spree.
Verb (old).— i. To talk.
1567. HARMAN, Caveat 1814), p. 66
To CUTTE, to say.
To CUT BENLE, to speake gentle.
To CUT BENE WHYDDS, to speake or give
good words.
To CUTTR QUYER WHYDDES, tO gCU6 Cull
words or evil language.
1622. HEAD AND KIRKMAN, The
English Rogue. This Doxie Dell can
CUT BIEN WHIDS, and drill well for a win.
1815. SCOTT, Guy Manneiing, ch.
xxviii. Meg's true-bred ; she's the last
in the gang that will start— but she has
some queer ways, and often CUTS queer
words.
1834. W. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood
p. 230 (ed. 1864). Here I am, pal Peter ;
and here are my two chums, Rust and
Wilder. CUT the whid.
1849. THACKERAY, Pendennis, ch.
ix. The infatuated young man went on
CUTTING his jokes at the Admiral's ex-
pense, fancying that all the world was
laughing with him.
2. (colloquial). — To disown,
ignore, or avoid associating with,
a person. Sometimes to CUT
DEAD. — See CUT, subs., sense 2.
An article in the Monthly Maga-
zine for 1798 cites CUT as a
current peculiarity of expression,
and says that some had tried to
change it into 'spear,' but had
failed.
1634. S. ROWLEY, Noble Souldier,
Act ii., Sc. i. Why shud a Souldier,
being the world's right arme, Be CUT thus
by the left, a Courtier?
1794. Gent. Mag., p. 1085. I no
sooner learned he was at the ' Black Bull '
than I determined to CUT the old codger
completely.
1811. Miss AUSTEN, Sense and Sen-
sibility, ch. xliv. That he had CUT me
ever since my marriage, I had seen with-
out surprise or resentment.
1855. THACKERAY, Newcomes, ch. xli.
' You are angry with her because she CUT
you,' growls Clive. ' You know you said
she CUT you, or forgot you ; and your
vanity's wounded.'
1864. G. A. LAWRENCE, Guy Living-
stone, ch. viii. It was only a slight satis-
faction to hear that she has utterly lost
Cut.
236
Cut a Caper.
sight of my rival, and promises to CUT him
DEAD the first time they meet.
1870. Daily News, 26 May, ' Leader. '
The old Greeks dedicated an altar to the
Unknown God, for fear of CUTTING some
jealous but obscure deity through ignor-
ance of his existence and attributes.
Also as verbal substantive,
CUTTING.
1840. MRS. GORE, The Dowager, ch.
xiii. [On the Continent.] Every person's
place in Society is so definite . . . that ex-
cept in cases of some enormous breach of
propriety, no person once established can
ever be expelled. Unless for cogent reasons,
he could not have been there at all ...
There is no talk of ' CUTTING.' Such an
outrage would reflect on the perpetrator
rather than on the person ' cut.' All the
vulgar caprices consequent on a shifting
state of society are unknown.
3. (general). — Also TO CUT AND
RUN, CUT IT, CUT ONE'S LUCKY,
CUT ONE'S STICK, CUT OFF, CUT
AWAY, etc. To depart more or
less hurriedly and perforce.
[Originally nautical — to CUT the
cable AND RUN before the wind.]
CUT OVER and CUT AWAY form-
erly bore precisely the same mean-
ings. For synonyms, see AMPU-
TATE and SKEDADDLE.
1570. LAMBARDE, Perambulation of
Kent. Let me CUT OVER to Watling
Streete.
1593. NASHE, Countercujfe to Martin
Junior, in wks., vol. I. , p. 79. He came
latelie ouer-sea into Kent, fro thence he
CUT OUER into Essex at Grauesende.
1678. C. COTTON, Scarronides, bk.
IV., p. 86 (ed. 1725). Put on the Wings
that used to bear ye, And CUT AWAY to
Carthage quickly.
1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 51. Explain
the philosophical meaning of the sentence.
1 He CUT AWAY from the crushers as quick
as a flash of lightning thro' a gooseberry
bush.'
1857. DICKENS, Little Dorrit, bk. I.,
ch. xxxi., p. 238. ' I see precious well,'
said Mr. Tip, rising, * that I shall get no
sensible or fair argument here to-night, and
so the best thing I can do is to CUT.'
1888. RIDER HAGGARD, Mr. Meesons
Will[\n Illus. Lond.Neivs, Summer Num-
ber], p. 2, col. 3. Off you go! and mind
you don't set foot in Pompadour Hall, Mr.
Meeson's seat, unless it is to get your
clothes. Come, CUT.
4. (trade). — To compete in
business ; to under - sail. A
CUTTING trade is one where
profits are reduced to a minimum.
Also CUT UNDER.
1874. H. MAYHEW, London Charac-
ters, p. 469. All agreed in referring their
misery to the spirit of competition on the
part of the masters — the same universal
desire to CUT UNDER.
1883. L. OLIPHANT, Altiora Peto,
II., xxiii., 78. So we dissolved partner-
ship, and I went in with another chap, to
work on some kind of principle, but Ned
was all "the time CUTTING UNDER us by
bringing out some new contrivance — he's
great on electricity, Ned is.
5. (common). — To excel. —
See quot., 1853. Also CUT OUT
1853. WH. MELVILLE, Digby Grand,
ch. viii. There have been instances of the
weaker sex ... CUTTING DOWN, from
sheer nerve and determination, the bearded
sons of Nimrod themselves.
1884. Referee, 13 April, p. i, col. 4.
George's performance in the ten miles
handicap at Stamford Bridge on Monday
— 51 min. 20 sec. — is hardly likely to be
disturbed for a long time to come, unless
he CUTS himself.
6. (theatrical). — To strike
out portions of a dramatic pro-
duction, so as to shorten for
representation. Cf. , subs. , sense 3.
7. (University). — To avoid ;
to absent oneself from. Thus, TO
CUT LECTURE, TO CUT CHAPEL,
TO CUT HALL, TO CUT GATES
are common phrases.
1794. Gentleman's Mag., Dec., s.v.
1889. WHIBLEY, In Cap and Gown,
CUT A CAPER or CAPERS, verbal
phr. (colloquial). — To play a
trick or prank ; to behave bois-
Cut a Diish.
23?
Cut- A way
terously or fantastically. [From
CUT, a verb of action, + CAPER
(q.v.) a freakish proceeding or
prank.] C/., CUT DIDOES. Fr.,
battre itn h^^.^t.
1602. SHAKSPEARE, Twelfth Night,
Act i., Sc. 3. Sir And. Faith, I can CUT
A CAPER.
c. 1626. Dick of Devonshire, in Bul-
len's Old Plays, ii., 68. Pike, Could I
shake those chaines off I would CUTT
CAPERS : poore Dick Pike would dance
though Death pip'd to him.
1712. Spectator, No. 324. Others are
called the dancing-masters, and teach
their scholars to CUT CAPERS by running
swords through their legs.
1751. SMOLLETT, Peregrine Pickle,
ch. Ixxxvii. He .... hied him home to
his bride, to communicate his happiness,
CUTTING CAPERS, and talking to himself
all the way.
1780. MRS. COWLEV, The Belle's
Stratagem, Act iv., Sc. i. Har. Why,
isn't it a shame to see so many stout, well-
built young fellows, masquerading, and
cutting courants here at home, instead of
making the French CUT CAPERS to the
tune of your cannon ; or sweating the
Spaniards with an English fandango?
1843. DICKENS, Martin Chuzzlewit,
ch. xx., p. 208. Jonas only laughed at
this, and getting down from the coach-top
with great alacrity, CUT a cumbersome
kind of CAPER in the road.
CUT A DASH, SPLASH, or SHINE,
verbal phr. (general). — To make
a show; to attract attention
through some idiosyncrasy of
manner, appearance, or conduct.
In the United States to CUT A
SPLURGE Or CUT A SWATHE P r.,
flamber \faire duflafla ; and faire
flouer.
1771. FOOTE, Maid of Bath, I. But
the squire does not intend to CUT A DASH
till the spring.
1835. HALIBURTON, Clockmaker, i S.,
ch. xxii. Well, they CUT as many SHINES
as Uncle Peleg. One frigate they guessed
would captivate, sink, or burn our whole
navy.
1857. A. TROLLOPE, Three Clerks,
ch. xxxi. Gin and water was the ordinary
tipple in the front parlour ; and any one
of its denizens inclined to CUT A DASH
above his neighbours generally did so
with a bottom of brandy,
1884. S. L. CLEMENS (' M. Twain '),
Hucklebury Finn, xxiii., 227. It would a
made a cow laugh to see the SHINES that
old idiot CUT.
1885. G. A. SALA, in Daily Telegraph,
i Sept., p. 5, col. 4. It is while they are
in the land of the living that I should like
to see the Australian Croesuses spending
their money. Why don't they — to use a
very vulgar but very expressive locution —
CUT A SPLASH with their magnificent
revenues ?
CUT A FIGURE, verbal phr. (com-
mon).— To make an appearance,
good or bad.
1759. STERNE, Tristram Shandy.
vol. II., ch. ii. You will CUT NO con-
temptible FIGURE in a metaphysic circle.
1766. GOLDSMITH, Vicar of Wake-
field, ch. x. When Moses has trimmed
them [the horses] a little, they will CUT A
VERY TOLERABLE FIGURE.
1839. LEVER, Harry Lorrequer, ch.
i. He certainly CUT A DROLL FIGURE.
CUT AND COME AGAIN, phr.
(colloquial). — Plenty: i.e., if one
cut does not suffice plenty remains
to come at again.
1738. SWIFT, Polite Conv., dial. ii.
I vow, 'tis a noble sir-loyn. Neuerout.
Ay ; here's CUT AND COME AGAIN.
1821. COOMBE, Dr. Syntax, tour III.,
ch. iv. Something of bold and new
design Dug from the never-failing mine,
That's work'd within your fertile brain,
Where all is CUT AND COME AGAIN.
Subs, (venery). — The female
pudendum.
CUT-AWAY, subs, (common). — A
morning coat. [From comparison
to a frock-coat, the lappets in
front being 'CUT AWAY.'] For
synonyms, see CAPELLA.
1866. London Miscellany, 5 Jan., p.
201. ' London Revelations.' He wore a
Newmarket CUTAWAY, with huge flaps
and pockets monopolising the whole of
the skirts, suggestive of being receptacles
for plunder.
cut:
238
Cut Dirt.
1870. London Figaro, 8 June. It
may be taken as an axiom that if a CUT-
AWAY has been made for a fashionable
man six feet high and broad in proportion,
it will never sit nicely on the form of a
wee little weaver of five feet two.
1889. Pall Mall Gaz., 29 Oct., p. 3,
col. i. Off flies the frock coat and the
flowing necktie ; on goes the little red bow
and the seedy brown ' CUTAWAY.'
CurorCuT UP DIDOES, SHINDIES,
SHINES, etc., verbal phr. (collo-
quial).— To play pranks or tricks ;
the same as CUT CAPERS.
18(?). Pickings from the Picayune,
p. 147. This 'ere Frenchman has been
CUTTING UP DIDOES in my house now for
several days ; he aint sober onst a week,
and breaks all my cheers and tables Mr.
Recorder.
1851. New York Tribune, 10 April.
Had the Free Stales been manly enough,
true enough, to enact the Wilmot Proviso
as to all present or future territories of the
Union, we should have had just the same
DIDOES CUT UP by the chivalry that we
have witnessed, and with no more damage
to the Union.
CUT DIRT (American), or CUT
ONE'S STICK, LUCKY, etc., verbal
phr. (common). — To make off;
to escape. To CUT DIRT is
clearly an allusion to the throw-
ing up of mud and dust by a
horse's hoofs in fast trotting.
Originally, TO CUT ONE'S STICK
refers to the cutting of a staff
from a hedge or tree on the occa-
sion of a journey CUT OVER
and CUT AWAY, though vulgarly
colloquial in the nineteenth, were
. in literary use in the sixteenth
and seventeenth centuries. A
curious and noteworthy parallel
is found in Zechariah xi. 10, where
the 'cutting of a stick' is described
as the symbol of breaking a
friendly covenant. CUT ONE'S
STICK is sometimes elaborated
into AMPUTATE ONE'S MAHOGANY
(q.v.). CUT ONE'S LUCKY is a
simple reference to a * lucky '
escape. A Latin equivalent of
CUT ONE'S STICK is to be found
in Juvenal's Collige sarcinulas
('collect the bags'). For syn-
onyms, see AMPUTATE. To CUT
ONE'S LUCKY also signifies to die.
1829. Negro Song [quoted in *$". /.,
a»dC., p. 287]. He jump up fo' sartin —
he CUT DIRT and run, While Sambo
follow arter wid his ' turn, turn, turn.'
1836. C. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers
(about 1827), p. 79 (ed. 1857). Hold still,
sir ; wot's the use o1 runnin arter a man as
has MADE HIS LUCKY, and got to t'other
end of the Borough by this time.
1840. DICKENS, Old Curiosity Shop,
ch. xl. ' And now that the nag has got
his wind again,' said Mr. Chuckster,
rising in a graceful manner, ' I'm afraid
I must CUT MY STICK.'
1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 136. He
t James II.] is the only English sovereign
who may be said to have amputated his
bludgeon, which, if we were speaking of
an ordinary man and not a monarch, we
should have rendered by the familiar
phrase of CUT HIS STICK.
1841. Comic Almanack, p. 278. As
sune as ve arived at the sumat had a
Werry hextensif vew off Prinse lewy a
CUTTIN HIS UNLUKKY, folowd by his
folowers at H i pressure spede.
1843. W. M. THACKERAY, Lyra
Hibemica. 'The Battle of Limerick.'
. . . the best use Tommy made Of his
famous battle blade, Was to CUT HIS OWN
STICK from the Shannon shore.
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 150. A iran
got me to go for some in a orchard, and
told me how to manage ; but I CUT MY
LUCKY in a minute
1853. Western Scenes. Now you
CUT DIRT, and don't let me see you here
again for a coon's age, you hear ?
1855. J. RICHARDSON, Recollections
of Last Half Century, vol. II., p. 172.
In less than half an hour he swallowed the
whole undiluted contents of the bottle, and
haying done so CUT HIS LUCKY, and
retired.
ante~i%l\. Border Adventures, p. 231.
Now, I say, old hoss, if you don't hurry
up and CUT DIRT like streak - liyhtnin',
this child goes arter you, and you look out
for a windin" sheet, you hear?
18PO. Punch's Almanack, p. 3.
Cute.
239
Cut it Fat.
CUTE, CUTERER, and CUTELY, adj.
and adv. (colloquial). — Sharp ;
clever; 'fly to wot's wot.' [A
corruption of ACUTE.] Fr.,
avoir le nez creux. For syno-
nyms, see KNOWING. So also
CUTENESS, the quality or character
of being CUTE.
1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5 ed.).
COTE (A) : sharp, witty, ingenious, ready,
etc.
1754. B. MARTIN, Eng. Diet. (2 ed.).
CUTE (alow word used instead of (Acute):
witty.
1762. FOOTE, Orators, Act i. I did
speechify once at a vestry concerning new
lettering the church buckets, and came off
CUTELY enough.
1765. FOOTE, Commissary, III. I
did not know but they might be after,
more CUTERER now in catching their
larniug.
1768. GOLDSMITH, Good Natured
Man, Act ii. Well, who could have
thought so innocent a face could cover so
much 'CUTENESS !
1768. GOLDSMITH, Good Natured
Man, Act iv. Truly, madam, I write and
indite but poorly. I never was "CUTE at
my learning.
1874. M. COLLINS, Frances, ch.
xxxv. We can leave them to their own
devices ; they're both pretty 'CUTE.
1884. C. GIBBON, By Mead and
Stream, ch. xx. Dressed in the latest
City fashion— for there is a City fashion,
designed apparently to combine the ele-
gance of the West end with a suggestion
of superhuman ' CUTENESS.'
CUT FINE, verbal phr. (common). —
To narrow down to a minimum.
CUT IN, verbal phr. (common). — To
join in suddenly and without
ceremony ; to intrude, or CHIP
IN (q.v.). Also substantively.
1819. SCOTT, Bride of Lammermoor,
ch. xxi. He was afraid you would CUT
IN and carry off the girl.
1843. DICKENS, Martin Chuzzlewit,
ch. xxiv., p. 246. I advise you to keep
your own counsel, and to avoid tittle-
tattle, and not to CUT IN where you're not
wanted.
1849. THACKERAY, Pendennis, ch.
vii. ' Most injudicious,' CUT IN the Major.
1864. G. A. LAWRENCE, Guy Living-
stone, ch. vi. Keeping all her after-supper
waltzes for him religiously, though half the
men in town were trying to CUT IN.
1883. Referee, 17 June, p. 7, col. 4.
I am anxious to have a CUT IN and get a
big advertisement for nothing.
1884. W. C. RUSSELL, Jack's Court-
ship, ch. v. ' In short,' CUT IN my uncle
unceremoniously, ' you have seen enough
of Jack's life to know something about it ?'
CUT INTO, verbal phr. (Winchester
College). — Originally to hit one
with a 'ground ash.' The office
was exercised by Bible-clerks
upon a ' man ' kicking up a row
when 'up to books.' Now gene-
rally used in the sense of to cor-
rect in a less formal manner than
TUNDING (q.V.).
CUT IT, verbal phr. (common). — To
move off quickly ; to run away,
or CUT DIRT (g. v.). For syno-
nyms, see AMPUTATE and SKE-
DADDLE.
1885. Indoor Paupers, p. 36. Once
a week we CUT IT From the workhouse
gate.
Intj. phr. (common). — 'Cease ! '
' Stow it ! ' ' Stash it ! '—A
forcible injunction to desist and
be off. Also CUT THAT ! or
simply CUT !
1863. C. READE, Hard Cash, II.,
240. Then first he seemed to awake to his
danger, and uttered a stentorian cry of
terror, that rang through the night, and
made two [unprofessional] of his three
captors tremble. ' CUT THAT,' said Green
[professional] sternly, 'or you'll get into
trouble.' Mr. Hardie lowered his voice
directly.
CUT IT FAT, verbal phr. (general).
— To show off; to make a di -
play ; to ' come it strong ' ; ' put
on side,' or CUT A DASH (q.v.\
1F35. DICKENS, Sketches by Boz, p.
54. Gentlemen, in alarming waistcoats,
Cut Mutton.
240 Out Ones Eye Teeth.
and steel watch - guards, promenading
about, three abreast, with surprising dig-
nity (or as the gentleman in the next box
facetiously observes, 'CUTTING IT UNCOM-
MON FAT ! ')
1841. Comic Almanack, 'Christmas
Fair.' A goose, even tailors have, who
CUT IT FAT, And use the^ww itself to get
1887. BAUMANN, Londonismen. 'A
slang dittv,' p. v. But, there, it don't
matter, Since lo CUT IT STILL FATTER, By
'ook and by crook Ve've got up this book.
CUT MUTTON, verbal phr. (old). —
To partake of one's hospitality.
Cf. , ' to break bread ' with one.
1849. THACKERAY, Pendennis, ch.
xxxii. Bungay . . . hoped to have the
pleasure of seeing both gents to CUT
MUTTON with him before long.
CUT OFF ONE'S HEAD, verbal phr.
(American political). — Used when
an official's term of office has
come to an end through change
of Government, or supercession
in other ways. Also TO DECAPI-
TATE and TO BEHEAD.
1869. New York Herald, 5 Aug.
' The axe,' wrote a correspondent from
Washington, 'is still doing its bloody
work, and HEADS ARE FLYING OFF in all
directions. The clerks in the Treasury
Department begin to feel anxious, as the
work of decapitation will soon make an
end of them also.'
1872. Daily Telegraph, 5 Jan.
' Leader.' At the commencement of any
fresh Presidency, hundreds of Democratic
employes have their HEADS CUT OFF to
make room for Republicans who, in their
turn, will be decapitated when the Demo-
crats get the upper hand again.
CUT OF ONE'S JIB, subs, phr \ (nau-
tical). — The general appearance.
[From the foremost sail of a ship,
which is frequently indicative of
a vessel's character. A strange
sail is judged by the CUT OF ITS
JIB.]
1833. MARRYAT, Peter Simple [ed.
1846], vol. I., ch. ii., p. 9. I axes you
because I see you're a sailor by the CUT OF
YOUR JIB.
1835. HALIBURTON, Clockmaker, 3
S., ch. iv. For 1 seed by the CUT OF THE
FELLER'S JIB that he was a preacher.
1836. MICHAEL SCOTT, Cruise of the
Midge (ed. 18), p. 363. Oh, I see —
there is a smart hand, in the gay jacket
there, who does not seem to belong to your
crew — a good seamen, evidently, by the
CUT OF HIS JIB.
1881. BUCHANAN, God and the Man,
ch. xvi. By the voice of you, by the rigs
of you, and by the CUT OF YOUR PRECIOUS
JIB.
1884. W. C. RUSSELL, Jack's Court-
ship, ch. iii. My democratic wide-awake
and the republican CUT OK MY JIB, said he
looking down at his clothes.
CUT ONE'S CART, verbal phr.
(vagrants') — See quot.
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
andLon. Poor, vol. I., p. 339. I've seen
them doze and sleep against the door.
They like to be there before anyone CUTS
THEIR CART (exposes their tricks).
CUT ONE'S COMB, verbal phr.
(common). — To snub ; to lower
conceit.
1593. G. HARVEY, Pierces Super-
erog., in wks. II., 283. Can . . . loue
quench, or Zeale luke warme, or valour
manicle, or, excellencie mew-vpp, or perfec-
tion geld, or supererogation COMBE-CUTT
itselfe?
1608. MIDDLETON, Trick to Catch
the Old One, IV., iv. To see ten men
ride after me in watchet liveries, with
orange-tawny caps, — 'twill CUT HIS COMB,
i' faith.
ed. 1717. NED WARD, wks. II., 302.
If you prate one word more, I shall SLICE
A SMVER OFF YOUR COXCOMB, and teach
you a little more manners before I've done
with you.
1822. SCOTT, The Fortunes of Nigel,
ch. ii. I will take my own time ; and all
the Counts in Cumberland shall not CUT MY
CUT ONE'S EYES, verbal phr.
(thieves'). — To get suspicious.
CUT ONE'S EYE (or WISDOM)
TEETH, verbal phr. (common).—
To learn ' what s what.' [A play
Cut Ones Own Grass. 241
Cut the Painter.
upon the word 'eye,' with an
allusion to the canine teeth.]
CUT ONE'S OWN GRASS, verbal
phr. (prison). — To get one's own
living. C/., PADDLE ONE'S OWN
CANOE.
CUT OUT, verbal phr. (colloquial).
— To debar; deprive of advantage;
supersede. Cf. , CUT, verb, sense
5. [Originally a nautical term;
from CUTTING OUT a ship in an
enemy's port.]
1779. R. CUMBERLAND, Wheel of
Fortune, Act iv., Sc. 3. I suspect your
heart inclines to Captain Woodville ; and
now he is come to England, I suppose I
am likely to be CUT OUT.
1856. C. BRONTE, Professor, ch. iii.
There's Waddy— Sam Waddy— making
up to her ; won't I CUT HIM OUT ?
1863. HON. MRS. NORTON, Lost and
Saved, p. 182. One woman has often CUT
ANOTHER OUT, whose superiority, if dis-
sected and analysed, would be found to be
composed of the carriage that whirled her
up to the door, the nimble footman who
rapped at it, the soft carpet on the hand-
some staircase, the drawing-room to which
it led, and the gilt stand full of geraniums,
heliotropes, and roses in the curtained
window.
1864. G. A. LAWRENCE. Guy Living-
stone, ch. xxv. Here, as elsewhere, she
pursued her favourite amusement, re-
morselessly. Fallowfield called it 'her
CUTTING OUT expeditions." She used to
watch till a mother and daughter had, be-
tween them, secured a good matrimonial
prize, and then employ her fascinations on
the captured one.
CUTOUT Q*, verbal phr. (common).
— To ' do,' or be done, out of.
CUTS, subs, (tailors'). — Scissors.
* SMALL CUTS ' = button-hole
scissors.
CUT SAUCY. —See SAUCY.
CUT SHORT. (Generally CUT IT
SHORT !) phr. (common). — A
common injunction not to be
prolix. For synonyms, see STOW
IT.
1852. DICKENS, Bleak House, ch.
Ivii., p. 478. 'Come, then!' he gruffly
cried to her, ' You hear what she says.
CUT IT SHORT, and tell her.1
1878. JAS. PAYN, By Proxy, ch. xvi.
Let us CUT THIS SHORT, Pennicuick.
There is nothing more of importance to be
said, and such talk is painful to both of
us.
CUTTER, subs. (old). — A robber ;
a bully. [From committing acts
of violence like those ascribed to
the Mohocks ; or, from cutting
purses. Cotgrave translates CUT-
TER (or swash - buckler) by
balaffreuX) taillebras, fendeur t/e
naseaux. Coles has, 'A CUTTER
(or robber), gladiator, /afro.']
This ancient cant word now
survives in the phrase, * to swear
like a CUTTER. '
c. 1589. NASHE, Month' s Mind, in
wks., vol. I., p. 152. These like lustie
CUTTERS .... aduentured to lay holde
fast on our purses, and like strong theeues
in deed proffered to robbe vs of all our
monnie.
1633. ROWLEY, Match at Midn..
O. PI., vii., 353. He's out of cash, and
thou know'st, ty CUTTER'S law we are
bound to relieve one another.
1663. ABRAHAM COWI.KY, The Cutter
of Coleman St. [Title of play.]
1822. SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel,
ch. xxiii. Fifty thousand decuses, the
spoils of five thousand bullies, CUTTERS,
and spendthrifts.
CUT THE LINE, ROPE, or STRING,
verbal phr. (thieves').— To cut a
story short ; to stop yarning. —
See CAVE.
CUT THE PAINTER, verbal phr.
(nautical). I. To decamp ; make
off— secretly and suddenly. For
synonyms, see AMPUTATE and
SKEDADDLK.
2. To die.—.?** ALOFT and
Ho i» THE TWIG.
16
Cutting.
242
Cut Up.
CUTTING, verbal subs, and ppL adj.
(trade). — I. The process of under-
selling ; synonymous with com-
petition of the keenest kind. — See
CUT. verb, sense 4.
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 372. There is
great competition in the trade, and much
of what is called CUTTING, or one trades-
man underselling another. Ibid., vol.
II., p. 232. Those employers who
seek to reduce the prices of a trade
are known technologically as CUT-
TING employers, in contradistinction
to the standard employers, or those who
pay their workpeople, and sell their goods
"at the ordinary rates.
1863. Once a Week, vol. VIII., p.
552. At first sight it would seem that
the poor men got a better article for less
money than the rich and well-to-do
classes ; but a little inquiry into the
method by which these CUTTING bakers
1 make things pleasant ' soon dissipate this
seeming anomaly.
1863. Once a Week, vol. VIII., p. 179.
If she is accustomed to frequent CUTTING
SHOPS, where the stock is periodically
thrown into a state of convulsions in its
efforts to sell itself off, of course she
expects to be done.
2. (colloquial). — Disowning or
ignoring a person. — SeeCuT, verb,
sense 2.
1854. AYTOUN AND MARTIN. Bon
Gaultier Ballads. ' The Doleful Lay
of the Honble. I. O. Uwins.' Uselessly
down Bond Street strutting, Did he greet
his friends of yore : Such a universal
CUTTING, Never man received before.
CUTTLE or CUTTLE BUNG, subs.
(old). — A knife used by cut-
purses. [From Latin cultellus,
a knife ; ttnde, a cutlass. ] For
synonyms, see CHIVE.
1592. GREENE, Second Part Conny-
catching, in wks., vol. X., p. 3. And
feeling if his CUTTLE BOUNG were glibbe
and of a good edge, went to this meale-
vnan to enter combate hand to hand with
his purse.
1599. NASHE, Lenten Stuffe (Harl.
Misc., VI., 172). [He] unsheathed his
cu rTLE-BONG, and from the nape of the
necke to the taile dismembered him.
16)8. DEKKER, Belman of London,
in wks. (Grosart) III., 154. He that cuts
the purse is called the Nip . . . The
knife is called a CUTTLE-BUNG.
1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all,
p. 37 (H. Club's Repr., 1874). A Roome
CUTTLE : a sword. A CUTTLE BUNG :
a knife to cut a purse.
CUTTY- EYED, adj. (thieves'). — Sus-
picious looking ; leering.
CUT UP, verbal phr. (colloquial). —
I. To run down ; to mortify.
1759. GOLDSMITH The Bee, No. 5,
p. 390 (Globe ed.). The pack of critics,
who probably have no other occupation
but that of CUTTING UP everything new.
1819. SHELLEY, Letter to Oilier, in
Letters (Camelot), p. 309. I read the
article ... I am glad, however, to see
the Quarterly CUT UP, and that by one of
their own people.
1874. MORTIMER COLLINS, Frances,
ch. xvii. The slashing writers who delight
to CUT UP a book, especially if the author
is a friend or a rival.
2. (common). — To come up ;
turn up ; become ; show up.
3. (thieves'). — To divide
plunder ; to share ; to * nap the
regulars.' Cf., CUT UP FAT.
1779. R. CUMBERLAND, Wheel of
Fortune, Act iv., Sc. 3. Sir D. D. A
gentleman, who trusts to servants in his
absence, is sure to be CUT UP. Emily,
CUT UP ! what's that. Sir D. D. Why,
'tis a common phrase.
1870. J. K., Good Words, April. 'The
Nailmakers' Lamentation.' Now, what's
twelve shillings to CUT UP, To pay so
many things.
1879. J. W. HORSLEY, in Macm.Mag.,
XL., 505. We had between sixty and
seventy quid to CUT UP (share).
1880. G. R. SIMS, How the Poor Live.
These . . . were mostly ' ramps,' or
' swindles, got up to obtain the gate-money,
and generally interrupted by circumstances
arranged beforehand by those who were
going to CUT UP the plunder.
4. (common).— To behave.
1856. T. HUGHES, Tom Browns
School-days, pt. I., ch. v. You see, a
great deal depends on how a fellow CUTS
UP, at first. If he's got nothing odd
about him, and answers straightforward,
and holds his head up, he gets on.
Cut Up.
243
Cymbal.
1883. Illust. London News, 12 May,
p. 463, col. 2. Export again CUT UP
wretchedly in the Burwell Stakes, which
fell to Blue Glass, and one of the best of
the American three-year-olds.
CUT UP FAT, verbal phr.
(common). — To leave a large
fortune. Cf., CUT UP, sense 3.
1824. T. HOOK, Sayings and Doings,
i S., Dan-vers, p. 13 ('Colburn's Stand.
Novels'). His property was immense
. . . and few people ventured to guess
. . . what he would CUT UP for.
1831. DISRAELI, The Young Duke,
bk. IT., ch. vii., p. 228 (ed. 1866). 'You
think him rich?' 'Oh, he will CUT UP
VERY LARGE,' said the Baron.
1848. THACKERAY, Book of Snobs,
ch. vii. The old banker died in course of
time, and to use the affectionate phrase
common on such occasions, CUT UP pro-
digiously well.
1860. O. W. HOLMES, The Professor
at the Breakfast Table, xi., p. 351. In
the midst of these kind expressions, the
gentleman with the diamond, the Koh-i-
noor, as we called him, asked in a very
unpleasant sort of way, how the old boy
was likely to CUT UP, — meaning what
money our friend was going to leave
behind.
1872. Civilian, 2 March. Time
wears on, and old Stubbs pays the debt of
nature, and CUTS UP SPLENDIDLY. His
colossal fortune is the making of his
needy sons-in-law.
CUT UP [ROUGH, RUSTY,
SAVAGE, STIFF, UGLY, etc.],
verbal phr. — To become quarrel-
some or dangerous.
1836. DICKENS, Pickwick, ch. xliii.,
p. 377. ' I'll trouble you for the loan of
five-and-twenty pound.' ' Wot good 'ull
that do?' inquired Mr. Weller. 'Never
mind,' replied Sam. ' P'raps you may
ask for it five minits arterwards ; p'raps
I may say I von't pay, and CUT UP
ROUGH.'
1849. THACKERAY, Pendennis, ch. 1.
T didn't mean any offence — beg pardon
-hang it ! you CUT UP QUITE SAVAGE.
1855-7. W. M. THACKERAY, Miscel-
lanies, II., 272. It is true that Natty
[Edward's Julia's younger brother] called
many times in Pocklington Square, and
complained to Edward that he, Nat, could
neither see his Mar nor the Gurls, and that
the old gent CUT UP UNCOMMON STIFF.
1864. A. TROLLOPE, TheSmall House
at Ailing-ton, ch. iv. She's always talking
of Lupex being jealous ! if he was TO CUT
UP ROUGH, you wouldn't find it pleasant.
CUT UP WELL, verb. phr.
(venery), — To strip well; to be
an engaging bed-fellow.
To BE CUT UP (common). —
To be vexed; hurt ; dejected ;
sometimes simply CUT. Formerly,
to be in embarrassed circum-
stances.
1821. P. EGAN, Tom and Jerry [ed.
1890], p. 60. But, owing to a combination
of unfortunate circumstances, such as gam-
bling, dissipation, etc., Jem is so CUT UP,
that all his old pals have turned their backs
upon him.
1846. THACKERAY, V. Fair, vol. I.,
ch. xxv. ' I should have liked to see the
old girl before we went,' Rawdon said.
' She looks so CUT UP and altered that I'm
sure she can't last long.'
1855. W. M.THACKERAY, Newcomes,
II., p. 201. It's not when a fellow'sdown
and CUT UP, and riled, — naturally riled — as
you are, — I know you are, Marquis ; it's
not then that I'm going to be angry with
you . . .
1864. Glasgow Herald, 28 Dec. Not
a word was said. I felt confoundly CUT,
and every mouthful of that dinner felt as if
it would choke me.
CUTTY, subs. — A short pipe ; a
NOSE-WARMER, (q.V.).
Cuz, subs, (printers'). — A work-
man free of the 'chapel.'
CYM BAL, subs, (thieves').— A watch.
For synonyms, see TICKER.
subs, (common)-
— I. A penny, or
(in//.) pence ;
e.g., two D ;
three D, etc.,
= two - pence,
three •- pence,
etc. [The initial
letter of the Latin denarius. ]
1880. Punch's Almanack, p. 3. Got
the doldrums dreadful, that is clear. Two
D left ! must go and do a beer !
2. (common). — A detective ;
among thieves, a policeman. For
synonyms, see BEAK and NARK.
1879. THOR FREDUR, Sketches from
Shady Places. Still I play Shoeblack odd
times. I have a few friends among the
D'S (detectives), who give me the job to
watch a house occasionally.
To USE A BIG D, verbal phr.
(common). — ' To swear ' ; the
' D ' stands for ' damned.'
1878. GILBERT AND SULLIVAN, Her
Majesty's Ship ' Pinafore' What, never
USE A BIG, BIG D?'
1890. H.D. TVUM*.! Saturday Songs,
p. 3. Do we fight the senseless duel, do
we SLING THE BIG, BIG D, No ; our
strongest word is 'Bother,' and revolvers
all we see.
THE TWO D'S, phr. (military).
— Army regulations enact that
a soldier's pay must not be
so docked in fines as to leave
him less than two-pence a day.
Hence, if a man, from any
cause, is put on short pay, he is
said to be ' on THE TWO D'S/
DAB, subs, (colloquial). — i. An
expert ; a DABSTER. [Thought
to be a corruption of ' adept '
(Latin adeptus] a dep ; a dap ;
a dab.] Cf., ' dabbler,' one who
meddles without mastery ; a su-
perficial meddler. Fr., dab> dabe,
or dade.
1733. Letter of LORD CHESTERFIELD
to Lady Suffolk, 17 Aug. [Suffolk Cor-
respondence, 1824, ii., 64.] . . . known
DABS at finding out mysteries.
1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5 ed.).
DAB (s.) . . . also an expert gamester is
so called [also 1754, MARTIN, Eng. Diet.
(2 ed.), s.v.].
1759. GOLDSMITH, The Bee, No. i.
One writer, for instance, excels at a plan
or a title-page, another works away the
body of the book, and a third is a DAB at
an index.
1838. Comic Almanack, p. 148. Such
a DAB to get up a commission.
1849. J. D. LEWIS, in WHIBLEY, p.
231. When Hicks, who's no DAB, with
his oar cuts a crab, And our coxswain he
swears like the devil.
1860. DICKENS, Great Expectations,
ch. xlii., p. 200. He was a smooth one to
talk, and was a DAB at the ways of gentle-
folks.
2. (common). — A bed. For
synonyms, see BUG-WALK and
KIP,
Dabster.
245
Daddle.
1823. W. T. MONCRIEFF, Tom and
Jerry, Act iii., Sc. 3. Mace'. . . . Vhen
ve've had the liqvor, ve'll kick up a reel,
and all go to our DABS.
3. (river-side thieves'). — -The
drowned corpse of an outcast
woman.
4. (old).— A trifle.
1745. WALPOLE to Mann, ii., 53.
The Count may have procured for her
some dirty DAB of a negotiation about
some acre of territory more for Hanover.
Adj. (colloquial). — I. Clever ;
skilled; expert. — See suds., sense
I. Fr., avoir le ponce long, or
rond, i.e., 'to have a long or
round thumb.'
2. (back slang). — Bad. A
DABHENO, a bad market, day,
or sale. DOOGHENO = a good
day, etc. ; DAB TROS = a bad
sort.
1877. DIPROSE, London Life. I've
been doing awful DAB with my tol
(lot) or stock, have'nt made a yennep
(penny).
RUM-DABE, su&s. (old).— The
same as DAB, subs., sense I.
[RUM (q.v.) is Old Cant for
'good.']
DAB DOWN, verbal phr. (com-
mon).— To pay ; hand over ; to
'post' or 'SHELL OUT' (q.v. for
synonyms).
To DAB IT UP [with a woman],
verbal phr. (old). — To pair off;
to agree to cohabitation.
DABSTER, subs, (colloquial). — An
expert or DAB (q.v.).
1877. J. GREENWOOD, Dick Temple,
ch. iii. ' Not in the least like the per-
formance of an amateur DABSTER,' re-
marked Jack Mallet, admiringly. 'Much
more like the work of an old master for
style and finish.1
DACE, subs. (old). — Two-pence ; in
America, two cents. [From
'deuce.']
DACHA-SALTEE, subs, (thieves' and
vagrants'). — A franc; or tenpence
English. [From the Italian died
soldi.'}— See SALTEE.
1861. READE, Cloister and Hearth,
ch. Iv. What with my crippledom and
thy piety, a wheeling of thy poor old dad,
we'll bleed the bumpkins of a DACHA-
SALTEE.
DAD - BINGED (also -BLAMED,
-FETCHED), -GASTED, -GONED,
-ROTTED, or -SNATCHED, ///.
adj. (American). — Half veiled
oaths ; ' whips to beat the devil
round the stump. ' [DAD is a cor-
rupted form of ' God,' which, with
other forms, (DOD-, Dog-, etc.),
is found in various combinations,
as above.] For synonyms, see
OATHS.
1887. Scribners Magazine, ' D ADGU M
ye ! ' cried Jeff, irritably, ' whut — by
grabs, hit's a human critter ! '
1888. S.L.CLEM ENS ('Mark Twain'),
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, p. 122.
A chile er two, mo 'er less, warn't no con-
sekens to Sollermun, DAD-FETCH him.
Ibid. ' Why, Mars Tom, I doan want no
rats. Dey's de DAD-BLAMEDEST creturs to
'sturb a body ... I ever see.'
DAD-DAD, M u M - M u M or DADDY-
MAMMY, subs. phr. (military). —
A beginner's practice on the drum.
DADDLE, stibs. (common). — The
hand ; or fist. To TIP THE
DADDLE, to shake hands. For
synonyms, see BUNCH OF FIVES,
to which may be added the fol-
lowing lists : —
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Chalk-
farm ; claw; clutch; cornstealev;
duke ; fam ; famble ; feeler ; fin ;
flapper ; flipper ; forceps ; fore-
foot ; fork ; grappling - iron or
Daddy.
246
Daffy.
hook ; goll (old) ; oar ; paddle ;
palette ; paw ; plier ; shaker ;
wing ; Yarmouth mitten.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Les abatis
or abattis (popular : a term applied
to both hands and feet ; properly
giblets) ; r agrafe (common ; hook
or clasp) ; la croche (thieves ' :
properly a quaver ; possibly in-
fluenced by croc = hook, grapnel,
or drag ; an allusion to the hooked
appearance of the musical note) ;
/a. cut Her (popular : literally a
spoon) ; les brancards (popular :
this expression, like abatis, is also
used of the feet ; properly =
shafts, as of a cart) ; Pargttemine
(thieves') ; le battoir (popular :
properly a washerwoman's 'bat');
un gigot (popular : a large, thick
hand, a 'mutton fist ') ; le grappin ;
les harpions ( also = feet).
ITALIAN SYNONYM. Gramoso
(properly ' a wretch ') ; cerra.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
s.v.
1789. GEO. PARKER, Life's Painter,
p. 143, s.v.
1819. T. MOORE, Tom Crib's Mem.
to Cong., p. 23. From this to the finish,
'twas all fiddle-faddle, Poor Georgy, at
last, could scarce hold up his DADDLE.
Ibi-i. With DADDLES high uprais'd, and
nob held back, In awful prescience of th'
impending thwack.
1827. SCOTT, Two Drovers, ch. ii.
Ah, this comes of living so long with kilts
and bonnets — men forget the use of their
DADDLES.
1842. Punch, vol. TIL, p. 136. And
her DADDLE link'd in his'n gone to roam
as lovers use.
1849. C. KINGSLEY, Alton Locke,
ch. v. ' Tip us your DADDLE, my boy,'
said the second speaker.
DADDY, subs, (general). — i. The
superintendent of a casual ward ;
generally an old pauper.
2. (theatrical). — A stage
manager. — See quot.
1886. Graphic, 10 April, p. 399. The
manager himself is sometimes known as the
' gorger,' and DADDY is the stage-manager.
3. (common). — A confederate
of ' workers ' of mock raffles, lot-
teries, etc. ; generally the person
selected to receive the prize.
DADDYISM, subs. (American). —
Pride of birth.
1871. KATE FIELD, in Harpers
Bazaar, Aug. An Eastern man commend-
ing the services of a young Philadelphia!!
to a Chicago tradesman, said : ' He comes
of a very good family ; his grandfather was
a distinguished man.' ' Was he ?' replied
the man of Chicago. ' That's of no
account with us. There's less DADDYISM
here than any part of the United States.
What's he himself.'
DAFFY or DAFFY'S ELIXIR, subs.
(common). — Gin. [From a popu-
lar medicine sold as early as the
beginning of the eighteenth cen-
tury : see advertisements (1709),
in Ashton's Social Life in the
Reign of Queen Anne, i., pp. 7,
8 : now known as ' Tincture of
Senna.'] For synonyms, see
DRINKS.
1821. The Fancy, vol. I., p. 304.
While carrying on his new vocation of
publican, Jack did not deny himself the
use of drops of DAFFY.
1841. LEMAN REDE, Sixteen-String
Jack, Act i., Sc. 2. Take some DAFFY to
the back parlour.
1851. H. MAYHEW, Lon. Lab. and
Lon. Poor, IV., 430. When I goes in
where they are a havin' their DAFFIES—
that's drops o' gin, sir.
1871. London Figaro, 15 April. [If
the baby] should bawl persistently . . .
he would . . . thoroughly dose it with
DAFFY.
1882. Punch, vol. LXXXII., 193.
They had low foreheads, and wore big
buttonholes, for so they termed the flowers,
it was ' the thing ' to wear. A good many
of them, too, had been partaking freely
of DAFFY.
Daffy-Down-Dilly. 247
Dairy.
DAFFY-DOWN-DILLY, subs. (old). —
A 'dandy ; one 'got up regard-
less. ' For synonyms, see DANDY.
1841. LEMAN REDE, Sixteen-String
Jack, Act i., Sc. 2. Bob: I'm here, my
DAFFY-DOWN-DILLY !
DAGEN, subs. (old). — An 'artful
member.' [From DAGEN, a sword
or dagger.] For synonyms, see
DOWNY COVE. DAGGER = the
penis.
DAGGER-CHEAP, adj. phr. (old). —
* Dirt ' cheap. [From an ordinary
of low repute in Holborn, notorious
for the coarseness of its entertain-
ment.— See Jonson's Alchemist ',
v., 2, and Devil is an Ass, i., i.]
1631. BISHOP ANDREWES, Sermons
(posthumous). We set our wares at a
very easy price ; he (the devil) may buy
us even DAGGER-CHEAP, as we say.
DAGS, subs, (common). — A feat ; a
performance or work, e.g., I'll do
your DAGS = an incitement -to
emulation. [From DAG, the old
Saxon form of 'day.' Darg for a
day's work is common in Scotland.
A love-darg is a day's free help
given to a farmer by his neigh-
bours.]
1879. Notes and Queries, 5 S., xii.,
15 Aug., p. 128. ' I'll do you (or your)
DAGS.' An expression used by children of
young, and sometimes of older, growth,
meaning, ' I'll do something that you can-
not do.1
1886. Fun. He was very fond of
what, in schoolboy days, we used to call
doing DAGS.
DAILY LEVY, subs, (journalistic). —
The Daily Telegraph. [This
London daily was established
by Mr. Edward Levy Lawson.]
DAIRY, subs, (common). — The paps.
TO AIR THE DAIRY- tO expose
the breast.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Bubs or
bubbles ; charlies ; blubber ; but-
ter-boxes ; butter-bags ; berkeleys ;
cat-heads ; diddies ; globes ; dugs;
milk - walk ; milk - shop ; milky
way; dumplings ; udder (Brown-
ing) ; ' Nature's founts ' ; feeding
bottles ; ' charms ' ; hemispheres ;
apple - dumpling shop ; meat
market ; poonts ; titties ; cab-
man's rests (rhyming) ; baby's
bottom.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Les
avantages (familiar) ; F avant-cicur
(popular = the fore-heart ; as
Favant-btas = the fore-arm) ;
Favant - main ; les avant - scenes
(properly that goes before ; the
front of a stage) ; les avant-postes
(literally, the outposts) ; forangcr
(popular = the orange-tree. C/.,
des oranges sitr Fetagere] ; les
nenais or nenets (popular) ; dettx
(fiifs sur leplat ( common) ; le mcnzti
or mo-uzu (Old Cant) ; des blagues
a tabac (popular = tobacco-pou-
ches) ; des be s sons (common =
twins) ; une etagere or unetal( pro-
perly a butcher's stall ; etalage =
goods exposed for sale ; Cf. , etaler
sa marchandise = \.o wear a low-
necked dress) ; la doublure de la
piece (popular) ; devant de gilet
(popular : un gilet a la mode
- well - developed paps) ; une
livraison de bois devant sa porte
(popular) ; le ragotit de la poitrine
(ra^ont = pleasure, poitrine =
breast) ; la mappe-monde (popular :
literally a map of the two hemis-
pheres) ; les nichons (familiar) ;
il y a du monde au balcon (said of
one with large paps) ; les bossoirs
(sailors' ; gabarit sans bossoirs • =
thin or withered paps); les cale-
basses ( = gourds) ; les edaireurs
(popular: scouts); des gibasses
(popular : skinny paps) ; des <xujs
sur la place darmes (popular).
Daisies.
248
Daisy-Roots.
GERMAN SYNONYM. Gldshaus
(i.e., milk-house ; Gleis = milk).
ITALIAN SYNONYM. Tetta.
SPANISH SYNONYMS. Balso-
peto (m ; properly = a large pouch
carried near the breast) ; chiche or
chichi (f; a Mexican vulgarism) ;
pechera (/; also = a stomacher or
frill on the bosom of a shirt).
181J . Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
DAISIES, subs, (general). — Boots.
Cf., DAISY-ROOTS, and for syno-
nyms, see TROTTER-CASES.
1879. J. W. HORSLEY, in Macin.
Mag. , XL., 503. While waiting for my pal
I had my DAISIES cleaned.
To TURN UP ONE'S TOES TO
THE DAISIES. — To die. For
synonyms, see ALOFT and HOP
THE TWIG.
1837. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends
(Babes in the Wood). Be kind to those
dear little folks When our TOES ARE
TURNED UP TO THE DAISIES.
DAISY, subs. (American). — A man
or thing first-rate of a kind. Also
equivalent to DANDY, subs.,
sense 4.
c. 1876. Broadside Ballad, ' Mrs.
Brady's Daughter.' She's such a DAISY,
she sets me crazy.
1888. Denver Republican, May. ..Jack
Dempsey is beyond compare a pugilistic
DAISY.
1890. RUDYARD KIPLING, Fuzzy
Wuzzy, in Scots Observer, iv., p. 439, col.
i. 'E's a DAISY, 'e's a ducky, Vs a lamb.
Adj. (American). — First-rate ;
Ai.
1889. Puck's Library, April, p. 7.
Big scene of boats ascending Nile cata-
racts — new sensation, never done before —
and chance for DAISY effects in the desert.
DAISY BEAT. — See under BEAT.
DAISY-CUTTER, subs, (common). —
I. A horse whether good or bad.
Also DAISY-KICKER. Fr. , tin rase-
tapis.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1817. SCOTT, Rob Roy, ch. iii. I
should like to try that DAISY-CUTTER of
yours upon a piece of level road (barring
canter) for a quart of claret at the next inn.
1834. W. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood.
Song, 'The Game of High Toby.' But
what DAISY-CUTTER can match that black
tit.
1866. C. READE, Griffith Gaunt, ch.
i. Others galloped uselessly about pound-
ing the earth, for DAISY-CUTTERS were few
in those days.
2. (cricket). — A ball which
travels more than half the ' pitch'
along the ground without rising ;
a ' sneak. ' Wykehamice, ' a ram-
rod.'— See GRUB.
DAISY-KICKER, subs. (old). — i. A
horse. Cf., DAISY-CUTTER and
GROGHAM. For synonyms, see
PRAD.
1781. G. PARKER, View of Society,
II., 48. The hostler then says, ' He has a
choice nag or DAISY-KICKER to sell or
SWAP.'
2. (old).— An ostler,
implication from sense I.]
[By
DAISY-BEATERS.— 6V* CREEPERS.
1781. G. PARKER, View of Society,
II., 39. DAISY-KICKERS are Hostlers be-
longing to large inns ; and are known to
each ether by this name.
DAISY-ROOTS (rhyming slang).—
Boots. Also DAISIES. For syn-
onyms, see TROTTER-CASES. Fr.,
des salaires.
1879. J. W. HORSLEY, in Macm.
Mag., XL., 501. I piped [saw] three or
four pair of DAISY-ROOTS (boots).
To PICK A DAISY, verbal phr.
(common). — To evacuate in the
open air ; also, to retire to make
water.
Daisyville.
249
Damp.
DAISYVILLE, subs, (thieves').— The
country. Also DEUSEAVILLE.
ENGLISH SYNONYM. Monkery.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. La cam-
plouse ; la cambrouse ; le pas din
or pasquelin.
ITALIAN SYNONYMS. Longa
(literally = an expanse) ; polverosa
( literally = dusty); graziosa (liter-
ally = graceful).
1622. HEAD AND KIRKMAN, ' Canting
Song.' This Doxie Dell can cut bien whids,
And drill well for a win ; And prig arid
cloy so benshiply, All the DEUSEA-VILE
within.
DAKMA, verb (thieves').— To silence.
1859. MATSELL, Vocabulumt or
Rogue's Lexicon, s.v.
1881. New York Slang Diet. I had
to DAKMA the bloke to cly the swag.
DAM. NOT TO CARE or BE WORTH
A DAMyphr. (common). — To care
or be worth nothing. [The DAM
or DAWM is an Indian coin worth
barely the fortieth part of a rupee.]
Cf., CARE and FIG.
DAMAGE, subs, (colloquial). — The
cost of anything ; the sum total
in the sense of recompense.
' What's the DAMAGE ? ' ' what's
to pay ? ' also What's the SWIN-
DLE? (q.v.). [An allusion to
damages at law.]
b. 1788, d. 1824. BYRON [quoted in
Annandale]. Many thanks, but I must
pay the DAMAGE and will thank you to tell
me the amount of the engraving.
1852. H. B. STOWE, Uncle Tom's
Cabin, ch. xiv. Well, now, my good fel-
low, what s the DAMAGE, as they say in
Kentucky ; in short, what's to be paid out
for this business.
1871. DE VERB, Americanisms, p.
576. When he wishes to know what he
has to pay, he asks, What's the DAMAGE ?
or not so charitably, What's the swindle ?
DAMAGED,///, adj. (common). —
Drunk ; SCREWED (q.v. for syn-
onyms).— See DRINKS.
DAMBER, subs. (old). — A man,
COVE, or CULL belonging to the
fraternity of vagabonds. For
synonyms, see COVE.
DAMME, DAM MY or DAM MY- BOY,
subs. (old). — A sixteenth and
seventeenth century roysterer ;
a blustering fellow. [So called
from the excess to which swear-
ing was carried by the rakes of
the day.]
1654. WITTS, Recreations. To
valiant DAMMEE. DAM-ME, thy brain is
valiant, 'tis confest ; Thou more, that with
it every day dar'st jest Thy self into fresh
braules ; but call'd upon, With swearing
DAM-ME, answer'st every one. Keep thy
self there, and think thy valour right, He
that dares DAMNE himself, dares more than
fight.
1687. CLEVELAND, Works. Depriver
of those solid joys, Which sack creates ;
author of noise Among the roaring punks
and DAMMY-BOYS.
DAM NASTY OATH, subs. phr.
(American). — A corruption of
AMNESTY OATH. [Southerners,
at the close of the Civil War,
were required, as an outward sign
of submission to the Union, to
subscribe to certain conditions,
upon which a free pardon was
granted. The terms were deemed
unpalatable— hence DAM NASTY
OATH.]
DAMNED-SOUL, subs. (old). — A
Customs House clearing clerk.
[Because to avoid perjury he
was alleged to have taken a
general oath never to swear
truly in making 'declarations.']
\Lexicon Balatron icum , 1 8 1 1 . ]
DAMP (Generally, SOMETHING
DAMP), subs. phr. (common). —
Damper.
250
Dance.
A drink ; or ' GO' (q.v. for syn-
onyms).
1836. DICKENS, Pickwick, ch. xxvii.,
p. 228. ' So we'll just give ourselves a
DAMP, Sammy.' Saying this, Mr. Weller
mixed two glasses of spirits and water,
and produced a couple of pipes.
DAMPER, subs, (thieves'). — i. A
till or 'lob.' DRAWING A
DAMPER = robbing a till, i.e.,
1 lob-sneaking.'
1857. SNOWDEN, Mag. Assistant,
3 ed., p. 445, s.v.
2. (tailors'). — A sweater ; one
who takes as much as possible
out of workmen for a minimum
of pay.
3. (colloquial). — He or that
which damps, chills, or dis-
courages.
4. (old). —Ale or stout after
spirits and water. — See COOLER.
5. (old). — A snack between
meals. — See senses 6 and 7.
6. (schoolboys'). — A suet
pudding served before meat.
Cf., senses 4 and 5-
7. (Australian). — Unleavened
bread made of flour and water
and baked in thin cakes, in a
frying pan or on a flat stone in
wood ashes.
1885. G. A. SALA,in Daily Telegraph,
3 Sept., p. 5, col. 5. They got enough
flour from Sydney to make their DAMPERS.
1886. G. SUTHERLAND, Australia,
p. 77. They must at least receive a
' pannikin ' of flour and be allowed to bake
it up into a piece of DAMPER at the cook-
ing fire.
DAMP ONE'S MUG, verbal phr.
(common). — To drink. For
synonyms, see LUSH.
DAMP-POT, subs, (tailors') — The
sea ; specifically the Atlantic.
For synonyms, see BRINY and
PUDDLE.
DAMP THE SAWDUST, verbal phr.
(licensed victuallers') — To ' crack
a bottle ' with friends ' for luck '
on starting a new ' house.'
DAMSON-PIE, subs. (Black
Country). — A Birmingham and
' black country ' term for * Bil-
lingsgatry.'
1888. W. BLACK, Strange Adi', of
House Boat, ch. viii. Even if you were
to hear some of the Birmingham lads
giving each other a dose of DAMSON-PIE
. . . you wouldn't understand a single
sentence.
DANCE, subs, (thieves'). — A stair-
case or flight of step?. A con-
traction of the older form —
DANCERS. \Ducange Anglicus,
1857-]
Verb (old).— I. To be hanged.
Also TO DANCE UPON NOTHING
and TO DANCE THE PADDINGTON
FRISK. Ft. , danser tftte danse oh
il n y a pas cTplancher andfaire la
benediction du pied en Pair. For
synonyms, see LADDER.
1839. H. AiNswoRTH,/ao£S/«?//tfn/,
ch. xxxi. ' My limbs feel so light, now
that my irons are removed,' he obser-
ved with a smile, ' that I am half inclined
to dance.' ' You'll DANCE UPON NOTHING,
presently," rejoined Jonathan, brutally.
1840. HOOD, Miss Kilnianse^g. Just
as the felon condemned to die, With a very
natural loathing, Leaving the sheriff to
dream of ropes, From his gloomy cell in a
vision elopes To a caper on sunny greens
and slopes Instead of the DANCE UPON
NOTHING.
1864. Daily News, 2 Dec. Another
synonym for being hanged is DANCING ON
NOTHING IN A HEMPEN CRAVAT.
2. (printers'). — Type DANCES
if letters drop out when the forme
is lifted.
Dance of Death. 251
Dando.
To DANCE BARNABY. — See
BARNABY.
DANCE OF DEATH, subs. phr. (old).
— Hanging. Cf., DANCE, verb,
sense I.
DANCERS, subs, (thieves') — i.
Stairs ; a flight of steps. Fr., hs
grimpants.
1671. R. HEAD, English Rogue, pt.
I., ch. v., p. 52 (1874). Track up the DAN-
CERS, go up the stayres.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1847. LYTTON, Lucretia, pt. II., ch.
vii. ' Bob, track the DANCERS. Up like
a lark — and down like a dump.' Bob
grinned . . . and scampered up the stairs.
1858. LYTTON, What^ will he do
with it? bk. III., ch. xvi. Come, my
Hebe, track the DANCERS, that is, go up
the stairs.
2. sing, (thieves'). — Also DANC-
ING MASTER. A thief whose
speciality is prowling about the
roofs of houses and effecting an
entrance through attic and upper
storey windows ; a GARRETEER
(q.v.\ [In allusion to dexterity
of walk.] For synonyms, see
AREA-SNEAK.
DANCING-MASTER, subs. (old). — i.
A species of Mohock or dandy,
temp. Queen Anne. [Who made
his victims caper by running
his sword through the legs ; for
detailed description, see Spectator
(1712), No. 324.] For list of
synonyms, see DANDY.
2. (thieves'). — See DANCERS,
sense 2.
3. (old). — The hangman ;
Jack Ketch.— See DANCE, verb,
sense i.
D AND D, phr. (police). — 'Drunk
and disorderly (in connection
with charge sheet cases). A syno-
nym is LUSHY AND STROPOLUS.
1889. Answers, 2 March, p. 218, col.
i. Last New Year's Day he took over
143. to my certain knowledge? for the old
man was up for p AND D, trying to break
a window with his broom.
^/^. (colloquial). — Anger.
To RAISE ONE'S DANDER or GET
ONE'S DANDER UP or RIZ = to
make or get angry. [Derivation
uncertain ; provincial in several
English counties.]
1843. DICKENS, Martin Chuzzleivit,
ch. xxi., p. 223. I do my duty; and I
RAISE THE DANDER of my feller critters,
as I wish to serve ; . . . they rile up rough,
along of my objecting to their selling Eden
off too cheap.
1848-62. J. RUSSELL LOWELL, Big-
low Papers. Wut'll make ye act like
freemen? Wut'll GIT YOUR DANDER RIZ?
1849. THACKERAY, Penciennis, ch.
xliii. Don't talk to me about daring to do
this thing or t'other, or when my DANDER
is UP, it's the very thing to urge me on.
1863. Punch, 7 Feb. If John Bull
had RIZ OUR DANDER, Settin' foot on yon-
der shore, Then we should have holler'd
grander Than the broad Atlantic's roar.
1872. Chamb. Journal, 14 Dec., p.
791. They knew he'd never find out who
did it, for he was in such an awful DANDER.
DANDER ED, ppl. adj. (colloquial).
— Angry; 'mad.'
1890. H. D. TRAILL, Saturday
Songs, ' The Precipitate Grandmother,' p.
30. Whose way of tackling DANDERED
snakes Is to perpitiate the critters With
hominy an' buckwheat cakes And pump-
kin-squash an' apple fritters.
DANDO, subs, (common). — A great
eater ; a glutton ; specifically a
sharper who subsists at the ex-
pense of hotels, restaurants, or
oyster bars. [From one DANDO,
a 'bouncing, seedy swell,' hero
of a hundred ballads, notorious
for being ' charged ' at least twice
a month with bilking.]
Dandy.
Dandy.
18(?). THACKERAY, The Professor.
' What a flat you are,' shouted he in a voice
of thunder, ' to think I'm agoing to pay !
Pay ! I never pay — I'm DANDO.'
1850. MACAULAY, Journal in Life,
by Trevelyan, ch. xii., p. 539 (1884), April
27. — To Westbourne Terrace, and passed
an hour in playing with Alice ... I was
DANDO at a pastry cook's and then at an
oyster shop.
1885. ///. London News, 15 Aug., p.
154, col. 3. One day we are told that the
couplet should be : — Oysters, you'll find,
are best by far In every month which ends
with an r. Next day this is pooh-poohed,
and we are to read, instead :— Oysters,
you'll find, are best by far In every month
which contains an r. Spiritualists might
be kind enough to consult DANDO, who
would, no doubt, have the true version at
his finger's ends, so as to rap it out on the
instant.
DANDY, subs, (formerly slang, now
recognized). — I. A fop ; a cox-
comb ; a man who pays excessive
attention to dress. The feminine
forms, ' dandilly ' and ' dandi-
zette,' did not ' catch on.' DANDY
was first applied half in admira-
tion, half in derision to a fop
about the year 1816. John Bee
(Slang Diet., 1823) says that Lord
Petersham was the chief of these
successors to the departed Maca-
ronis, and gives, as their peculiari-
ties,'Frenchgait,lispings,wrinkled
foreheads, killing king's English,
wearing immense plaited panta-
loons, coat cut away, small waist-
coat, cravat and chitterlings im-
mense, hat small, hair frizzled
and protruding.' In common
English DANDY has come to be
applied to such as are neat and
careful in dressing according to
fashion. [From DANDY-PRATT
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Beau ;
blade ; blood ; buck ; chappie ;
Corinthian ; count ; court-card ;
cheese ; daffy-down-dilly; dancing-
master; dude; dundreary; exquis-
ite ; flasher ; fop ; gallant ; gom-
my > g°rger J Jemmy Jessamy ;
Johnny ; lounger ; macaroni ;
masher ; mohawk ; nerve ; nick-
er ; nizzie ; nob ; oatmeal ;
scourer ; smart ; spark ; sweater ;
swell ; toff; tip-topper ; tumbler ;
yum-yun.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Ungan-
din (popular = a frequenter of
the old Boulevard de Gand) ;
un gomrneux ; un mouchard ; tin
mouget ; tin petit maitre ; un talon-
rouge (from the red heels worn
in the seventeenth century); un
incroyable (a 'swell' of the
Directoire period, as also tin
we.rveilleux) ; tin mirliftore (an
allusion to millefleurs, a favourite
perfume) ; tin mtiscadin ; un ele-
gant ; un dandy ; un lion ; un
fashionable', tin cocodes; un creve\
tin petit creve '; un col-casse', tin
luisant ; un poisseux ; un boudine ;
un pscJiutteux ; un exhume | un
gratine', unfaucheur\ un becarre;
tin daim ; un excellent bon ; un
fade\ un fadaid; un gilet en
cocur ; un mtiguet (properly lily cf
the valley. Cf., DAFFY-DOWN-
DILLY).
SPANISH SYNONYMS. Don
gttindo ; hopeo ; pisaverde.
1818. CARLYLE, in Early Letters
(Norton), vol. I., p. 158 When I walk
along the streets, I see fair women ....
and fops (DANDIES as they are called in
current slang), shaped like an hour-glass —
creatures whose life and death, as Crispin
pithily observes, ' I esteem of like impor-
tance, and decline to speak of either.'
1821. COOMBE, Syntax, Wife, c. iv.
I met just now, upon the stairs, A DANDY
in his highest airs.
1835. HALIBURTON, Clockmaker, 2 S.,
ch. viii. Great DANDY was Mr. Bobbin ;
he looked just as if he had come out of the
tailors' hands.
1847. LYTTON, Lucretia, pt. I., ch.i.,
What is now the DANDY was then [1880]
the Buck.
Dandy.
253
Dandypratt.
1866. W. D. HOWELLS, Venetian
Life, ch. xx. He is a DANDY, of course, —
all Italians are DANDIES, — but his vanity is
perfectly harmless, and his heart is not bad.
1890. LORD LAMINGTON, The Days
of the Dandies [Title].
2. (thieves'). — A bad gold
coin. [In allusion to its care-
ful make and composition, this
coin containing a certain propor-
tion of pure gold.]
1883. JAS. GREENWOOD, Tag, Rag,
and Co., p. 24. It is not in paltry pewter
' sours ' with which the young woman has
dealings, but in DANDYS, which, rendered
into intelligible English, means imitation
gold coin — half-sovereigns and whole ones.
3. (Irish). — A 'small whiskey.'
1838. Blackwootfs Mag. , May, ' Father
Tom and the Pope.' ' Dimidium cyathi
veroapud Metropolitanos Hibernicosdicitur
DANDY.'
1883. HAWLEY SMART, Hawkins, ch.
vi. It's beautiful punch — ah, well, as
you're so pressing, I'll just take another
DANDY.
4. (American). — Anything
first-rate; a DAISY (q.v.). Also
used adjectively.
1888. Superior Inter-Ocean. Dr. H.
Conner has invested in a fine piece of horse-
flesh. The animal was purchased in Osh-
kosh, and has a record of 3*37. It is said
to be a DANDY.
1888. St. Louis Globe Democrat, 21
Jan. My box ain't no good mister, but
I know a feller over dere dat's got de
DANDY one.
1888. Missouri Republican, 2 Feb.
I'm a terror from Philadelphia, and I can
lick any man in the world. I'm a DANDY
from away back ; the farther back they
come the DANDIER they are, and I come
from the furthest back.
THE DANDY, adv. phr. (com-
mon). — All right ; ' your sort ' j
* the ticket. ' Cf. , DANDY, sense 4.
A north-country song has the line,
' The South Shields lasses are
THE DANDY O ! '
1835. HALIBURTON, Clockmaker, i
S., ch., xxvi. I guess our great nation
may be stumped to produce more eleganter
liquor than this here. It's THE DANDY,
that's a fact.
1884. Notes and Queries, 6 S., ix.,
p. 35. I not long since heard a carpenter
whose saw did not cut, wanting, as he
expressed it, 'to be sharpn'd,' and who
took up another in better condition, say,
1 Ah ! that's THE DANDY.'
DAN DY-M ASTER , subs, (thieves'). —
The head of a gang of counter-
feiters ; who makes the coin, but
does not himself attempt to pass
it. [From DANDY, sttbs., sense
2, + MASTER.]
1883. GREENWOOD, Tag, Rag, and
Co. The spirits obtained being mostly
bottled and labelled, and unopened, find a
ready sale at public-houses known to the
DANDY-MASTER, so that no serious loss is
experienced in that direction.
DAN DYPRATT or DAN DI PRATT, subs.
(old) . — Primarily a dwarf; a page;
by implication a jackanapes. In
all likelihood, the etymon of the
modern 'dandy,' erroneously de-
rived from the French daitdin —
a fool, as in Moliere, Georges
Dandin. [From DANDIPRATT, a
half farthing of the time of Henry
VIL]
1580. Lingua, or the Five Senses,
O. PI., v., 172. This Heuresis, this inven-
tion, is the proudest Jackanapes, the
pertest, self- conceited boy that ever
breathed ; because, forsooth, some odd
poet, or some such fantastic fellows, make
much on him, there's no ho with him ; the
vile DANDIPRAT will overlook the proudest
of his acquaintance.
J 622. M ASSI NGER, Virgin - Martyr
II., i. The smug DANDIPRAT smells us
out, whatsoever we are doing.
] 657. MIDDLETON, More Dissembler
besides Women, Anc. Dr., IV., 372.
There's no good fellowship in this
DANDIPRAT, this divedapper [didapper],
as in other pages.
1706. R. KSTCOVRT, Fair Example,
Act iii., Sc. 3, p. 40. Boy. A candle, sir !
'tis broad daylight yet. Whims. What
then, you little DANDYPRAT? If we have
a mind to a candle we will have a candle.
Dang it.
254
Darby.
1821. SCOTT, Kenihvorth, ch. xxvi.
It is even so, my little DANDYPRAT, but
who the devil could teach it thee.
DANG IT ! pkr. (provincial). —
A euphemism for ' damn it ! '
Also DANG MY BUTTONS ! and
DANG ME !
DANGLERS, subs, (thieves'). — A
bunch of seals.
1859. MATSELL, Rogue s Lexicon, p.
124. And where the swag, so bleakly
pinched, A hundred stretches hence ? The
thimbles, slang, and DANGLERS filched,
A hundred stretches hence ?
DAN TUCKER, subs. phr. (rhyming
slang). — Butter. For synonyms,
see CART-GREASE.
DARBIES, subs, (common). — i.
Handcuffs. [Origin uncertain.
Father Derby's name (he is sup-
posed to have been a noted
usurer) was already proverbial in
1576, but that is all now known
of him.]
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Black-
bracelets ; buckles ; Father derbie's
bands ; ruffles ; wife ; snitchers ;
clinkers ; government securities ;
twisters; darbies and joans ( =
fetters coupling two persons).
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Les
alliances (popular = wedding
rings) ; une bride (thieves' = a
convicts' chain) ; le bouclage
(thieves' : also = imprisonment) ;
une cadenne (thieves' : applied
to a neck-chain); un cabriolet
(thieves' = a small rope or strap) ;
une guirlande (a chain for two).
ITALIAN SYNONYM. Trionfo
(literally = triumph).
SPANISH SYNONYM. Calceta
(properly = understocking).
1576. GASCOIGNE, Steel Glas, I., 787.
To binde such babes in father DERBIE'S
BANDS.
1592. GREENE, Quip for an Upstart
Courtier (Harl. Misc., V., 405). Then hath
my broker an usurer at hand, as ill as
himself, and he brings the money ; but they
tie the poor soul in such DARBIES' BANDS
[i.e., bonds], what with receiving ill com-
modities [i.e., goods in lieu of cash], and
forfeitures upon the bond, that they dub
him 'Sir John had Land,' before they
leave him ; and share, like wolves, the
poor novice's wealth betwixt them as a
prey.
1602. CAREW, Survey of Cornwall,
p. 15 (ed. 1769). [Speaking of the hard
dealings and usurious tricks of the mar-
chant Londoners in their dealings with the
Cornish tinners of his day, this writer tells
the wiles by which the poor wretches
became bound ' in DARBYE'S BONDS.']
1676. Canting Song, ' A Warning for
Housekeepers.' Rut when that we come
to the Whitt, Our DARBIES to behold.
1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4 ed.),
p. 12, S.V.
1819. T. MOORE, Tom Crib's Me-
morial to Congress, p. 77. Thus a new set
of DARBIES, when first they are worn,
Makes the jail-bird uneasy, though splen-
did their ray.
1836. MARRY AT, Jacket, ch. Ivii. We
may as well put on the DARBIES, continued
he, producing a pair of handcuffs.
1890. Standard, 7 April, p. 6, col. 3.
(Addressing the officer): Didn't you take
me by the scruff of the neck, and hold me
whilst others put the DARBIES on me ? —
I did not.
2. (common). — Sausages.
Also BAGS OF MYSTERY and
CHAMBERS OF HORRORS (.V..
DARBLE, subs. (old). — The devil.
[A corruption of French diable.~\
DARBY, subs. (old). — Ready money.
[One Derby is supposed to have
been a noted sixteenth century
usurer. — See quots. under DAR-
BIES, sense i.] For synonyms,
see ACTUAL and GILT.
1688. SHADWELL, Squire of Alsatia
(list of cant words), s.v.
Darby Allen.
255
Darkmans.
c. 1712. R. ESTCOURT, Prunella, Act
i., p. 4. Come nimbly lay down DARBY ;
Come, pray sir, don't be tardy.
1785. GROSK, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
s.v.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicuin, s.v.
DARBY ALLEN, stilts, phr. (Lan-
cashire). — Cajolery ; ' chaff' ;
' gammon. '
DARBY-ROLL, subs. (old). — A gait
peculiar to felons of long
standing: the result of long
shackles-wearing. Cf. , BAKER-
KNEED.
DARBY'S-DYKE, subs. (old). — The
grave ; also death.
DARBY'S-FAIR, subs. (old). — The
day of removal from one prison
to another for trial.
DARD,SU&S. (old). — The penis. For
synonyms, see CREAMSTICK.
DARK. To GET THE DARK, verbal
phr. (prison). — To be confined
in the punishment cell.
DARK CULL or CULLY, subs. (old).
— A married man with a secret
mistress. — [Grose, 1785.]
DARK-HORSE or DARK'UN, subs.
(turf). — A horse whose pace is
unknown to the backers ; figura-
tively, a candidate about whom
little is known.
1831. DISRAELI, Young Duke, ch. v.,
p. 66 (ed. 1866). All the ten-to-oners were
in the rear, and a DARK HORSE,
which had never been thought of, and
which the careless St. James had never
even observed in the list, rushed past the
grand stand in sweeping triumph.
1853. Diogenes, vol. II., p. 271.
Farewell ! oh, farewell to the lists On
whose varying prices I've hung ; I care
nought for the DARK-HORSE that lives
Unknown, who shall put me all right.
1884. HAWLEY SMART, Post to Finish,
ch. i. He had beaten everything that was
going to oppose him, with the exception
of some two or three DARK COLTS, of
which little was expected.
DARK-HOUSE, subs. (old). — A mad-
house. Shakspeare (All's Well,
etc., ii., 3) used it to denote the
seat of gloom and discontent.
DARKMANS, DARKS, DARKY, subs.
(old). — The night; also twilight.
1567. HARMAN, Caveat (1814), p. 84.
Bene Lightmans to thy quarromes, in
what lipken hast thou lypped in this
DARKEMANS, whether in a lybbege or in
the strummell ?
1667. DEKKER, Lanthorne and
Candlelight. ' Canting Rithmes.' Enough
— with bowsy Cove Maund Nace, Tour
the Parting Coue in the DARKEMAN'S
Case.
1706. E. COLES, Eng. Diet., s.v.
1815. SCOTT, Guy Mannering, ch.
xxviii. I think we should be down upon
the fellow, one of these DARKMANS, and
let him get it well.
1857. Punch, 31 Jan. 'Dear Bill,
this Stone Jug.' And at DARKMANS we
run the rig just as we please.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Black-
mans ; blind ; blindman's holi-
day (twilight).
FRENCH SYNONYM. Lasorgue,
or some.
GERMAN SYNONYMS. Mitte-
laile (midnight) ; Choschech, Chau-
schech, or Koschech (from the
Hebrew choschach = a moonless
night) ; jEVvs/ (specifically the eve
of a Sabbath or festival) ; Fichte
(literally a fir-tree) ; Ratt (Gypsy) ;
Schwdrze = (the black 'un) ; Zofon
or Zofen (from Hebrew zophan =
to hide).
ITALIAN SYNONYMS. Bruna
or brunora (Fr. brune) ; materna
(properly = the maternal.
SPANISH SYNONYM. Sonia.
Darkmaris Budge. 256
Dash.
PORTUGUESE SYNONYM.
Zona.
DARKMAN'S BUDGE, su&s. phr. (old).
— A housebreaker's confederate,
who slips into a house during the
day, hides there, and opens the
door at night. — [Grose, 1785.]
DARKY, or DARKEY, subs. (old). —
I. A dark lantern ; a bull's eye.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. Stow
the DARKEE and bolt, the cove of the cub
is fly.
2. (old). — The night ; the
twilight. Also (nautical) DARKS.
1789. GEO. PARKER, Life's Painter,
p. 124. Bless your eyes and limbs, lay
out a mag- with poor Chirruping Joe. I
don't come here every DARKEY.
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. III., p. 216. We
could average our ' duey bionk peroon a
DARKEY,' or two shillings each, in the
night.
1878. C. HINDLEY, Life and Times
of Jas. Catnach. The cleanest angler on
the pad in daylight or the DARKEY.
3. (c o m m o n). —A negro.
[From his complexion.] For
synonyms, see SNOWBALL.
1840. DANA, Two Years before the
Mast, ch. xvii. Tom Cringle says that no
one can fathom a negro's affection for a
pig ; and I believe he is right, for it
almost broke our poor DARKY'S heart
when he heard that Bess was to be taken
ashore.
1870. Negro Hymn. Walk in,
DARKIES, troo de gate ; Hark, de kullered
angels holler ; Go 'way, white fokes, ye're
too late, We's de winnin' kuller ! Wait,
Till de trumwet blow to foller !
1871. DE VERB, Americanisms, p.
594. I wish de legislatur' would set dis
DARKIE free, Oh ! what a happy place
den de DARKIE land would be ; We'd
have a DARKIE Parliament An' DARKIE
codes of law, An' DARKIE judges on the
bench, DARKIE barristers and aw1.
DARN, DARNED, verbw&ppl. adj.
(colloquial). — Euphemistic forms
of ( damn ' and ' damned ' ; used
to avoid ' cussing bar'-foot. ' Also
DARNATION,DANGNATION, DARN
BURN IT, and DARN or DASH
MY BUTTONS or WIG. — See
DADBINGED and OATHS for
synonyms.
c. 1840. West of England Ballad
[quoted in Literary World, u Apr., 1890,
p. 347, col. i]. But if he'd know'd he'd
got so much money He DARNED HIS
BUTTONS if he'd gi'ed'un the shillin'.
1880. G. R. SIMS, Zeph and other
Stories, p. 87. I shall bring you to your
senses, Bess, now, my girl, and you won't
be so DARNED fast refusin' a good offer.
1888. Harpers Magazine. My
experience has taught me that in Colorado
the man who tells the first story has a
DARNED poor show.
DART, subs. (pugilistic). — A
straight-armed blow.
D.A.'s, sttbs. (general). — The men-
strual flux. [An abbreviation of
DOMESTIC AFFLICTIONS (q.V.)
and for synonyms see FLAG -UP.]
DASH, siibs. (old). — I. A tavern
waiter.
2. (common). — A small quan-
tity ; a 'drink'; a 'GO' (q.v.
for synonyms). Also a small
quantity of one fluid to give a
flavour to another, e.g., a lemon
and a dash = a bottle of lemonade
with just a suggestion of bitter
beer in it.
Verb (brewers').— I. To adul-
terate.
1871. Times, 4 April. 'Leader on
Licensing Bill.' The brewers are careless
of the characters of their tenants ; they
compel them to take all their beer from
themselves, and too often at such prices
that they are driven to adulterate or DASH
the liquor.
2. Also DASH IT ! Or DASH
MY BUTTONS, WIG, TIMBERS, etc.,
intj. phr. (common). — Colloquial
Dasher.
257
Davy.
expletives ; also employed eu-
phemistically = 'to damn.' — See
BUTTONS and OATHS.
1819. MOORE, Tom Crib's Memorial
to Congress, p. 46. Except light oaths, to
grace his speeches, Like ' DASH MY WIG !'
or ' burn my breeches ! ' ,
1839. HARRISON AINSWORTH, Jack
Sheppard [1889], p. 22. You may try, but
DASH MY TIMBERS if you'll ever cross the
Thames to-night !
1842. Punch, vol. II., p. 20, col. 2.
Yet henceforth — DASH MY WIG ! I'll live
with thee, with thee I'll hop the twig !
1849. C. KINGSLEY, Alton Locke, ch.
iv. Gunpowder is your true leveller —
DASH physical strength ! A boy's a man
with a musket in his hand, my chap !
1864. DICKENS, Our Mutual Fi tend,
bk. IV., ch. iii. And if you hadn't come
round to me to-night, DASH MY WIG if I
wouldn't have come round to you to-
morrow.
]880. G. R. SIMS, Three Brass Balls,
pledge ii. ' DASH IT ALL ! ' said the
police-surgeon, ' that's two fatal cases I've
had to-day.'
CUT A DASH. —See CUT.
To HAVE A DASH ON, verbal
phr. (turf). — To speculate largely
or wildly j ' to go it strong.'
DASHER, subs. (old). — i. A showy
prostitute. (Cf., sense 2).
1790. C. DIBDIN, Sea Songs, ' Old
Cunwell the Pilot.' My Poll, once a
DASHER, now turned to a nurse.
2. (colloquial). — An ostenta-
tious or extravagant man or
woman ; an impetuous person ; a
' clipper ' ; also latterly, — the
word has shown progress towards
literary English throughout — a
man or woman of fashion ; a
person of brilliant qualities, men-
tal or physical. Fr. , genreux-se ;
une femme catapultetise (a fine
woman, as also tine cocodete].
Spanish equivalents are damaza
and sibila, while tiene garabato is
said of women who * hook ' men
by their manner and grace (gara-
bato = a meat-hook).
1843. DICKENS Martin Chuzzlewit,
eh. xxix., p. 289. ' Why, you look smarter
by day,' said Poll, ' than you do by candle-
light. 1 never see such a tight young
DASHER.'
1856. Miss EDGEW9RTH, Almeria,
p. 292. She was astonished to find in
high life a degree of vulgarity of which
her country companions would have been
ashamed : but all such things in high life
go under the general term dashing. These
young ladies were DASHERS.
DAUB, subs, (common). — I. An
artist. Verb. — See DAWB.
2. A bad picture.
DAVID, subs, (common). — I.— See
DAVY, sense i.
2. (American). — A torpedo.
1872. Morning Advertiser, 3 April.
DAVID JONES or DAVID JONES'S
LOCKER. — See under DAVY.
DAVID'S Sow. DRUNK AS DAVID'S,
or DAVY'S, sow, adv. phr. (old).
— Beastly drunk. [For a some-
what far-fetched derivation, see
GROSE'S Diet. Vulg. Tongue.'}
c. 1720. GAY, New Song of Neiv
Similes. Though as DRUNK AS DAVID s
sow.
1733. BAILEY, Erasmus, p. 127.
When he comes home, after I have been
waiting for him till I do not know what
time at night, as DRUNK AS DAVID'S sow,
he does nothing but lie snoring all night
long by my side.
1836. MARRY AT, Midshipman Easy,
ch. xiv. Fellows who have no respect for
the articles of war, and who get as DRUNK
AS DAVID'S sow.
DAVY, subs, (colloquial). — i. An
affidavit. Synonymous, by im-
plication, with 'God,3 in SO
HELP, Or S'WELP ME DAVY, or
17
Davy.
258
Daylight.
ALFRED DAVY (q.v.). Fr., Je
fen fous mon billet or mon
petit turlututu = I'll lake my
DAVY on it.
1764, O'HARA, Midas, II., iv. And
I with my DAVY will back it, I'll swear.
1835. HALIBURTON, Clockmaker, i
S., ch. xxii. ' I'll take my DAVY,' says
the captain, ' it's some Yankee trick.'
1842. Punch, vol. III., p. 136. Tell
me on thy DAVY ; whether thou dost
dear thy Colin hold.
1884. Daily Telegraph, 4 Sept., p. 2,
col. 2. You may take your DAVY I didn't
care anything about that.
2. (nautical). — Also OLD DAVY
and DAVY JONES (q.v.}.
DAVY JONES, DAVY, or OLD
DAVY, subs. phr. (nautical). — The
spirit of the sea ; specifically
the sailors' devil. [For sug-
gested derivation, see DAVY
JONES'S LOCKER, and for syno-
nyms, SKIPPER.]
1751. SMOLLETT, Peregrine Pickle,
ch. xiii. This same DAVY JONES, accord-
ing to the mythology of sailors, is the
fiend that presides over all the evil spirits
of the deep.
1790. C. DIBDIN, Sea Songs. And
if to OLD DAVY I should go, friend Poll,
Why you will ne'er hear of me more.
c. 1800. C. DIBDIN, The Birthday,
Act I., Sc. 2. June. When your back's
turn'd she's for ... sending you in a gale
to OLD DAVY.
DAVY JONES' (or DAVY'S)
LOCKER, subs. phr. (nautical).—
The ocean ; specifically, the grave
of them that perish at sea. The
popular derivation ( = a corrup-
tion of 'Jonah's locker,' i.e., the
place where Jonah was kept and
confined, and by implication the
grave of all gone to the bottom,
drowned or dead) is conjectural.
The following, however, may be
an additional link in the chain of
evidence.
1628. BISHOP ANDREWES, Ninety-
six Sermons, p. 515 (fol.) Of any, that
hath beene in extreme perill, we use to
say : he hath beene where lonas was ; by
lona's going downe the Whales throat, by
Him againe comming forth of the Whales
mouth, we expresse, we even point out, the
greatest extremity, and the greatest
deliverence that can be.
[Cf., quots. under DAVY
JONES.]
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1836. MARRYAT, Midshipman Easy,
ch. xxvii. By de holy poker, Massa
Easy, but that terrible sort of gale the
other day, anyhow. I tink one time we
all go to DAVY JONES'S LOCKER.
1842. Comic Almanack, p. 324.
There is no reason right why Jones's kid
Should be consign'd to DAVY JONES'S
LOCKER.
1851. Notes and Queries, i S., Hi.,
p. 478. If a sailor is killed in a sea-skir-
mish, or falls overboard and is drowned, or
any other fatality occurs which necessitates
the consignment of his remains to the
4 great deep,' his surviving messmates
speak of him as one who has been sent to
DAVY JONES' LOCKER.
DAVY PUTTING ON THE COP-
PERS FOR THE PARSONS, phr.
(nautical). — The indications of a
coming storm.
DAVY JONES' NATURAL CHILD-
REN, subs. phr. (nautical). —
Smugglers ; sea-rovers ; pirates.
DAVY'S DUST ', subs . phr. (common).
—Gunpowder. [DAVY (q.v.) =
the devil.]
1864. G. W. REYNOLDS, Pickwick
Abroad, ch. xxvi. Let DAVY'S DUST and
a well-faked claw, For fancy coves be the
only law.
DAWB or DAUB, verb (old). — To
bribe.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
s.v. The cull was scragged because he
could not DAWB.
DAYLIGHT, subs. (University). —
A glass that is not a bumper ;
also SKYLIGHT (q.v.). Obsolete,
Daylights.
259
Deacon.
To BURN DAYLIGHT, verbal
phr. (colloquial). — To use artifi-
cial light before it is really dark ;
to waste time.
1595. SHAKSPEARE, Romeo and
Juliet, Act i., 4. Mercutio. Come, we
BURN DAYLIGHT.
TO LET or KNOCK DAYLIGHT
INTO ONE, INTO THE VICTUAL-
LING DEPARTMENT, Or INTO THE
LUNCHEON RESERVOIR,/^. (com-
mon).— To stab in the stomach
(or breadbasket) ; in the bread-
room, potato-store, or giblet-pie,
etc., and by implication to kill.
Fr., bayafer. For synonyms, see
COOK ONE'S GOOSE.
1841. P^^nch, vol. I., p. 101, col. 2.
A gentleman in a blue uniform has thrown
himself into an attitude a la Crib, with
the facetious intention of LETTING DAY-
LIGHT INTO THE WITTLING DEPARTMENT.
DAYLIGHTS, subs, (common). — i.
The eyes. Cf., quots. under
DARKEN THE DAYLIGHTS. For
synonyms, see GLIMS.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vul. Tongue, s.v.
1823. BEE, SI. Diet, [quoted in].
The hero (Achilles) in his tent they
found, His DAY-LIGHTS fixed upon the
cold, cold ground.
2. (general). — The space in a
glass between liquor and brim :
inadmissible in bumpers at toasts :
the toast-master cries * no DAY-
LIGHTS nor heeltaps ! '
TO DARKEN ONE'S DAYLIGHTS,
verbal phr. (pugilistic). — I. To
give a black-eye j ' to sew up one's
sees.'
1752. FIELDING, Amelia, bk I.,
ch.. x. If the lady says such another
word to me, d — n me, I will DARKEN HER
DAYLIGHTS.
1786. The Microcosm, No. 2. The
nobility and gentry were taught theo-
retically as well as practically, to bruise
the bodies, and (to use a technical term)
DARKEN THE DAYLIGHTS of each Other,
with the vigour of a Hercules, tempered
with the grace of an Apollo.
1819. T. MOORE, Tom Crib's Me-
morial, p. 3. If the Fine Arts Of Jibbing
and boring be dear to your hearts ; If to
level, to punish, to ruffian mankind, And
tO DARKEN THEIR DAYLIGHTS, be plea-
sures refin'd.
1822. DAVID CAREY, Life in Paris,
p. 200. So here's at DARKENING HIS
DAYLIGHTS for the advantage of his
mummer.
DEACON, verb (American). — To
pack fruit, vegetables, etc., the
finest on the top. [Either derived
by inversion, or in allusion to the
Yankee proverb — ' All deacons
are good, but there is odds in
deacons.']
- 1868. Miss ALCOTT, Little Women,
ch. xi. The blanc-mange was lumpy, and
the strawberries not as ripe as they looked,
having been skilfully DEACONED.
To DEACON A CALF, verbal phr.
(American). — To kill.
To DEACON LAND, verbal phr.
(American). — To filch land by
removing one's fences into the
highway or other common pro-
perty.
To DEACON OFF, verbal phr.
(American).— To give the cue;
to lead in debate. [From a cus-
tom, once universal but now
almost extinct, in the New Eng-
land Congregational churches.
An important function of the
deacon's office was to read aloud
the hymns given out by the
minister one line at a time, the
congregation singing each line as
soon as read. This was called
DEACONING OFF.]
1848. J. R. LOWELL, Biglow Papers.
To funk right out o' p'lit'cal strife ain't
thought to be the thing, Without you
DEACON OFF the tune you want your folks
should sing.
]890. H. D. TRAILL, Saturday Songs,
p. 7. We grieve, too, that of all men you
Deacon- Seat.
260
Dead.
Your own great Unron's stout defender
Should DEACON OFF the craven crew, Who
here are clamouring for surrender.
DEACON -SEAT, subs. (American
lumberers'). — In log cabins the
sleeping apartment is partitioned
oft" by poles. The bed is mother
earth, the pillow is a log, the
foot-board a long pole six feet
from the fire and in the centre of
the cabin. The DEACON SEAT is
a plank fixed over and running
parallel with the footboard so
as to form a kind of settee
in front of the fire. [Probably in
allusion to the seats round a
pulpit, facing the congregation,
reserved for deacons.]
DEACON'S HIDING PLUCK, subs. phr.
(American). — A private compart-
ment in oyster saloons and cafes ;
the Fr. cabinet particulier.
DEAD, sztbs. (turf). — An abbrevia-
tion of ' dead certainty.' — See
CERT.
1889. Bailey's Magazine [quoted in
S.J. & C.}. 'Dealers in the DEAD' did
well then.
Adj. (various). — Stagnant ;
' quiet ' (of trade) ; ' flat ' (as of
beer or aerated waters after ex-
posure) ; cold (Am., see quot.,
1888); good; thorough; com-
plete (C/., subs., sense). Also as
an adv. as in DEAD BEAT, DEAD
BEST, DEAD DRUNK, DEAD
ROLLED (or FLUMMOXED), DEAD
NUTS, DEAD BITCHED, etc.
1602. SHAKSPEARE, Othello, ii., 2.
Why, he drinks you, with facility, your
Dane DEAD-DRUNK.
1819. MOORE, Tom Crib's Memorial
to Congress, p. 36. As DEAD hands at a
mill as they, and quite as ready after it.
1843. DICKENS, Martin Chuzzleivit,
ch. xvii., p. 187. ' I wish you would pull
off my boots for me,' said Martin, dropping
into one. of the chairs, ' I am quite knocked
up. DEAD BEAT, Mark.'
1845. Punch, vol. IX., p. 163. The
general opinion is that the Premier is DEAD
BEAT.
1860. Punch, vol. XXXIX., p. 37.
A DEAD take-in is swipes too thin.
1864. Punch. Veal is as DEAD as
mutton.
1872. Derby Mercury, i May. ' Free-
masonry in New Zealand.' He v/as not
dead, but only DEAD DRUNK.
_ 1884. W. C. RUSSELL, Jack's Court-
ship, ch. vii. So surely do I intend to
try my DEAD BEST— all that I know— to
win Florence's love and possess her as a
wife.
1888. Puck's Library, May, p. 27.
Hungry Guest. Please bring me some
clam fritters. Count (in disguise). Live
'r DEAD? Hungry Guest. Why, DEAD, of
course ! (And he got them stone-cold.)
DEAD AS A DOOR - NAIL,
MUTTON, A HERRING, A TENT-
PEG, JULIUS CESAR, etc., adv.
phr. (common). — Utterly, com-
pletely dead. DEAD AS A DOOR-
NAIL is found in Langland's Piers
Plowman [1362] ; all other forms
are modern. [The door-nail is
the striking-plate of the knocker.
Herrings die sooner after capture
than most fish.]
1593. G. HARVEY, Pierces Super.,
in wks. II., 71. If you will needes strike
it as DEAD AS A DORE NAJLE.
1596. NASHE, Saffron Walden, in
wks. III., 182. Wee'l strike it as DEAD AS
A DOORE-NAILE.
1598. SHAKSPEARE, //. King Henry
IV., iii. Falstaff. What ! is the old king
DEAD ? Pistol. AS NAIL IN DOOR.
1608. ARMIN, Nest of Ninnies. But
now the thought of the new come foole so
much moved him, that he was as DEAD AS
A DOORE-NAYLE, standing on tip-toe,
looking toward the door to behold arivall.
1700. FARQUHAR, Constant Couple,
Act iv., Sc. i. He's as DEAD AS A DOOR-
NAIL ; for I gave him seven knocks on the
head with a hammer.
1790. RHODES, Bombastes Furioso,
Ay, DEAD AS HERRINGS— herrings that are
red.
1843. C. DICKENS, Christmas Carol,
1864. D. W. THOMPSON, Daydreams
of a Schoolmaster, p. 230. The boat of
Aharon will push a difficult furrow through
Dead Against.
261
Dead Broke.
innumerable bodies, brick-bat laden, of
purr-less, soul -less DEAD - AS -DOOR -NAIL
cats. Poor pussies.
1878. BESANT AND RICE, By Celta's
Arbour, ch. xlviii. Quite dead he was,
DEAD AS A DOOR-NAIL.
IN DEAD EARNEST, adv. phr.
(colloquial). — Without doubt ; in
very truth.
1880. E. BELLAMY, Dr. Heidenhoffs
Process, p. 11. I am sure that you never
had a more sincere, more DEAD-IN -EARN EST
convert than I was.
DEAD AGAINST, adv. phr. (collo-
quial).— Decidedly opposed to.
1835. HALI BURTON, Clockmaker,
i S., ch. vii. You know I was always
DEAD AGIN your tariff bill.
DEAD-ALIVE or DEAD-AND-ALIVE,
adj. (colloquial). — Dull ; stupid ;
mopish ; formerly deadly-lively.
1884. H. D. TRAILL, in Eng. III.
Mag., I., 541. The city has greatly
revived of late ... it has ceased to
belong to the category of the DEAD-ALIVE,
and has entered that of the lively.
DEAD-AMISS, adv. phr. (turf). —
Incapacitated through illness from
competing in a race ; said of
horses.
DEAD-BEAT, suds. (American). — i.
A sponger ; loafer ; sharper. Cf.,
DEAD-HEAD and BEAT, subs.,
sense i.
1865. Glasgow Herald, 25 Dec.
' Trial Swanborough v. Sotheran.' I re-
turned the whole of the receipts, ani about
£4 i6s. for DEAD BEATS — free admissions
who took advantage of the occasion and
got paid — which caused great discontent.
1884. S.L.CLEMENS ('Mark Twain'),
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, p.
284. These uncles of your'n ain't no
uncles at all ; they're a couple of frauds-
regular DEAD-BEATS.
1888. Bulletin, 24 Nov. All the
DEAD-BEATS and suspected hen-snatchers
plead when before the Bench that they
were 'only mouching round to find out
whether the family neglected its religious
clooties, yer washup.
2. (American). — A pick-me-
up compounded of ginger, soda,
and whiskey.
Verb (American). — To sponge ;
loaf; cheat. Cf., BEAT, verb,
and DEAD-HEAD.
1880. Boston Journal. No party
can DEAD-BEAT his way on me these hard
times.
^'.—Exhausted; e.g., Billy
romped in as ' fresh as paint,
but the rest were DEAD-BEAT.
1821. P. EGAN, Tom and Jerry
[ed. 1890], p. 34. Logic was at length not
only so DEAD-BEAT, as to be compelled to
cry for quarter, but to seek a temporary
retirement, in order to renovate his
constitution.
DEAD BROKE, adv. phr. (general). —
Utterly penniless ; ruined. Also
FLAT or STONE BROKE; used
verbally, to DEAD-BREAK.
1866. Cincinnatti Enquirer, i June.
When he left the gambling-house, he was
observed to turn toward a friend with the
words, DEAD-BROKE ! and then to disap-
pear round the corner.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Wound
up ; settled ; coopered ; smashed
up ; under a cloud ; cleaned out ;
cracked up ; done up ; on one's
back ; floored ; on one's beam
ends ; gone to pot ; broken-
backed ; all U. P. ; in the
wrong box ; stumped ; feathered ;
squeezed ; dry ; gutted ; burnt
one's fingers ; dished ; in a bad
way ; gone up ; gone by the
board; made mince meat of;
broziered ; willowed ; not to have
a feather to fly with; burst;
fleeced ; stony ; pebble-beached ;
in Queer Street ; stripped ;
rooked; hard up ; broke ; hooped-
up ; strapped ; gruelled.
FRENCH -SYNONYMS. Etifonce
familiar : also - done brown) ;
Dead- Car go.
262
Dead Heat.
centrt (popular) ; desosse (popu-
lar : properly = boned) ; eren&
(popular) ; atige (thieves') ; panne
( = in Queer Street); see also BEAT.
ITALIAN SYNONYM. — Ferrarc
(to be ruined ; also = to spoil or
corrupt).
DEAD-CARGO, subs, (thieves'). —
Booty of a disappointing char-
acter.
DEAD CERTAINTY, subs. phr. (collo-
quial).— That which is sure to
occur ; usually contracted to DEAD
or CERT, both of which see.
18(?). AYTOUN. The Dreepdaily
Burghs, p. 4. Everybody is realising ;
the banks won't discount ; and when your
bills become due, they will be, to a
DEAD CERTAINTY, protested.
DEAD CUT. — See Cut.
DEAD DUCK, subs. phr. (American).
— That which has depreciated
to the verge of worthlessness.
18K8. New York Clipper, Long
Branch is said to be a DEAD DUCK. But
for the investments made at Elberon the
Branch proper would probably have been
abandoned long ago.
DEADER, subs, (military). — i. A fu-
neral ; a BLACK-JOB (q.V.).
2. (common). — A corpse.
DEAD FROST, subs, (theatrical). —
A fiasco; a COLUMBUS (q.v.}.
Fr. , nit four noir.
DEAD - GIVE - AWAY. — See GIVE
DEAD- AWAY.
DEAD GONE, adv. phr. (colloquial).
Utterly collapsed.
DEAD-HEAD, DEAD-BEAT or DEAD-
HAND, subs. (American). — One
who obtains something of com-
mercial value without special pay-
ment or charge ; a person who
travels by rail, visits theatres,
etc., by means of free passes
(cf.t PAPER) ; a SPONGE (q.v.).
Also a loafing sharper. — See BEAT
and DEAD-BEAT.
1861. Morning Post, ' New York
Correspondence." The editor had evi-
dently been travelling as a DEAD-HAND, as
it is called, and paid his bill by a laudatory
notice.
1871. DE VERE, Americanisms.
The DEAD-HEAD receives his newspapers
without subscribing, travels free of charge
on steamboat, railroad, and stage, walks
into theatres and shows of every kind
unmolested, and even drinks at the bar and
lives at the hotel without charge.
1883. Daily Telegraph. 21 May, p. 3,
col. i. 'Lucia di Lammermoor' is stale
enough to warrant the most confirmed
DEADHEAD in declining to help make a
house.
Also TO DEAD-HEAD, DEAD-
HEADISM, etc.
1871. New York Tribune, March.
Elder Knapp, the noted revivalist,
advertised that he would furnish a free
pass to glory, but very few of the un-
righteous population seemed anxious to be
DEAD-HEADED on this train.
1888. Portland Transcript, 14 March.
Unless we count those which had to do
with the stage business and went DEAD-
HEAD.
DEAD-HEAT, subs, (colloquial). — A
race with an equal finish. Form-
erly DEAD.
1635. QUARLES, Emblems, Epig. 10.
Mammon well follow'd, Cupid bravely led;
Both touchers ; equal fortune makes a
DEAD ; No reed can measure where the
conquest lies; Take my advice; compound,
and share the prize.
1828-45. T. HOOD, Poems, vol. I.,
p. 170 (ed. 1846). Away ! Away ! she
could ride a DEAD HEAT With the Dead
who rides so fast and fleet.
1884. ///. London News, 18 Oct., p.
362, col. 3. St. Gatien, the horse that ran
a DEAD-HEAT for the Derby.
Dead- Horse.
263
Dead Man.
DEAD-HORSE, subs, (common). —
i. Work, the wages for which
have been paid in advance ; by
implication, distasteful, or thank-
less labor. Fr., la bijouterie. To
PULL THE DEAD HORSE = to
work for wages already paid.
[Seamen, onsigningarticles, some-
times get pay in advance, and they
celebrate the term of the period
thus paid for by dragging a
canvas horse, stuffed with straw,
round the deck and dropping
him into the sea amidst cheers.]
Fr. , manger du sale (to eat salt
pork.)
1651. CARTXV RIGHT, Sledge. Ply.
Now you'l wish I know, you ne'r might
wear Foul linnen more, never be lowzy
agen, Nor ly perdue with the fat sutler's
wife In the provoking vertue of DEAD
HORSE, Your dear delights, and rare camp
pleasures.
1669. Nicker Nicked, in Harl. Misc.
(ed. Park), ii., no. Sir Humphry Foster
had lost the greatest part of his estate, and
then (playing, as it is said, for a DEAD
HORSE) did, by happy fortune, recover it
again.
1824. T. FIELDING, Proverbs, etc.
(Familiar Phrases), p. 148, s.v.
1857. Notes and Queries, 2 S., iv., p.
192. A workman ' horses ' it when he
charges for more in his week's work than
he has really done. Of course he has so
much unprofitable work to get through in
the ensuing week, which is called DEAD
HORSE.
2. (West Indian). — A shooting
star. Among Jamaican negroes
the spirits of horses that have
fallen over precipices are thought
to re-appear in this form.
TO FLOG THE DEAD HORSE,
verb. phr. (common). — To work
to no purpose ; to dissipate one's
energy in vain; to make 'much
ado about nothing.'
1872. Globe, i Aug. ' In the House,'
For full twenty minutes by the clock the
Premier . . . might be said to have rehearsed
that particularly lively operation known as
FLOGGING A DEAD HORSE.
DEAD-LETTER, subs, (colloquial). —
Anything that has lost its force or
authority by lapse of time or other
causes.
1755. FIELDING, Voyage^ to Lisbon,
p. 145. And to enact laws without doing
this, is to fill our statute-books, much too
full already, still fuller with DEAD LETTER,
of no use but to the printer of the Acts of
Parliament.
1859. SALA, Gaslight andf Da ''light,
ch. xxi. The Metropolitan Buildings' Act
is a DEAD LETTER in Tattyboys Rents,
for nobody ever thinks of building.
1861. Chambers Encyclopeedia, s.v.
Bunkum. Many laws, agitated for by
popular factions, remain a DEAD LETTER,
unless they happen to be enforced by clubs
organized for the purpose.
DEADLIGHTS, subs, (nautical). —
The eyes. For synonyms, see
GLIMS.
DEAD LURK, subs, (thieves'). — See
quot.
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. i., p. 403. The
DEAD LURK, for instance, is the expressive
slang phrase for the art of entering
dwelling-houses during divine service.
DEADLY, adv. (colloquial). — Very;
extremely ; excessively. In AR-
BUTHNOT : ' So DEADLY cunning
a man.'
DEADLY LIVELY, adv. phr. (com-
mon).— Jovial against the grain
and to no purpose.
DEADLY N EVERGREEN, subs. phr.
(old). — The gallows. Also known
as THE LEAFLESS TREE and THE
TREE THAT BEARS FRUIT ALL
THE YEAR ROUND. For syno-
nyms, see NUBBING CHEAT.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue
s.v.
DEAD MAN, subs. phr. (common).
— I. An empty bottle : said alsc
to bear Moll Thompson's mark
(i.e. M.T.= empty).
Dead Man.
264 Dead Men's Shoes.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. — Camp-
candlestick ; fellow-commoner ;
corpse ; dummy ; dead marine ;
dead recruit ; dead 'un.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. — Une
filhtte ( = a half-bottle) ; un corps
mort (popular : literally, a corpse ;
tine negresse morte (popular: a
reference to color as well as
condition).
1738. SWIFT, Polite Convert., Dial.
2. Ld, S. Come, John, bring us a fresh
bottle. Col. Ay, my lord ; and pray, let
him carry off the DEAD MEN. as we say in
the army [meaning the empty bottles\.
1825. The English Spy, vol I., p.
152. On the right was the sleeping room
and at the foot of a neat French bed, I
could perceive the wine bin, surrounded
by a regiment of DEAD MEN (empty
bottles).
1853. REV. E. BRADLEY ('Cuthbert
Bede'), Verdant Green, pt. I., p. 59.
Talk of the pleasures of the dead
languages, indeed ! why, how many
jolly nights have you, and J. Larkyns
passed ' down among the DEAD MEN.'
1871. London Figaro, 15 April. We
knew that, in practical use, imperials were
inconvenient and wasteful ; and that,
moreover, it was far from easy to dispose
of their corpses when they became DEAD
MEN.
1879. sBRADDON, Vixen, ch. viii.
And added more DEAD MEN to the formid-
able corps of tall hock bottles, which the
astonished butler ranged rank and file in a
obby outside the dining room.
1888. E. ZOLA. ' Translation of L'A s-
sommoir, ch. vii., p. 208. In a corner of
the shop, the heap of DEAD MEN increased,
a cemetery of bottles.
2. (bakers'). — A loaf, over-
charged, or marked down though
not delivered. In London, DEAD
'UN is a popular term for a half-
quartern loaf. Also, by impli-
cation, a baker.
1819. T. MOORE, Tom Crib's Memo-
rial, p. 16. DEAD MEN are bakers, so
called from the loaves falsely charged to
their master's customers.
3 (tailors'). —In pi. Misfits ;
hence, a scarecrow.
DEADMAN'S LURK, subs. phr.
(thieves'). — Extortion of money
from the relatives of deceased
persons. [LuRK = a sham, swin-
dle, or imposition of any kind.]
DEAD MARINE. — See DEAD MAN.
DEAD-MEAT, subs, (common). — A
corpse. [By comparison to
butchers' wares.] Cf., COLD MEAT.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. — Cold
meat ; pickles (medical students' :
for specimens direct from the
subject) ; croaker ; stiff ; stiff 'un ;
dustman ; cold pig.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. — Un
engourdi (thieves' : properly,
torpid, heavy, dull); une falourde
engourdie (popular : falourde = a
heavy piece of firewood) ; un
degele (pop : degel = death); un
rebouis (thieves' : one who has
been ' polished off ') ; un refroidi
(thieves' : refroidir = to cool, to
chill ; in cant, to kill) ; les con-
serves (popular : literally, pre-
serves;^, 'pickles': specifically
used of murdered bodies recovered
from the water).
DEAD - MEAT TRAIN. — See
COLD-MEAT TRAIN.
DEAD MEN'S SHOES, subs. phr.
(common). — A situation, property,
or possession formerly occupied
or enjoyed by a person who is
dead and buried. WAITING FOR
DEAD MEN'S SHOES = looking for-
ward to inheritances.
b. 1584, d. 1660. PHINEAS FLETCHER,
Poems, p. 256. And 'tis a general shrift,
that most men use, But yet 'tis tedious
waiting DEAD MEN'S SHOES.
1758. A. MURPHY, The Upholsterer,
Act i. I grant ye, ma'am, you have very
good pretensions ; but then it's waiting
for DEAD MEN'S SHOES.
Dead-nap.
265
Dead-tin.
1764. WILKES [in P. FITZGERALD'S
Life of] (1888), vol. I., p. 244. As they
have no other relation but Miss Wilkes, I
therefore suppose they will leave everything
to her, independent of me. Yet this is, after
all, waiting for DEAD MEN'S SHOES.
1878. C. H. WALL, tr. Moliere II.,
218. Death is not always ready to indulge
the heir's wishes and prayers, and we may
starve while waiting for DEAD MEN'S
SHOES.
DEAD-NAP, sttbs. (provincial). — A
thorough-going rogue.
DEAD-NIP, subs, (provincial). — A
plan or scheme of little import-
ance which has turned out a
failure.
DEAD-OH, adv. (naval). — In the
last stage of intoxication. For
synonyms, see DRINKS and cf.,
SCREWED.
DEAD ON, or DEAD NUTS ON, adv.
phr. (common). — Originally, hav-
ing some cause of complaint or
quarrel ; also, very fond of ; hav-
ing complete mastery over ; sure
hand at. Cf., DEATH ON,
DERRY ON and DOWN ON, all
of which are variants. — See
also NUTS ON, an older form.
1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude,
ch. iv., p. 288. Davies was DEAD NUTS
upon cutting men's hair. The whole
evening long was he calling men out to be
operated upon.
DEAD-SET, subs, (colloquial). — A
pointed and persistent effort or
attempt.
1781. G. PARKER, View of Society,
I., 196. He then gave me what I term
the DEAD SET with his eye.
1877. Five Years Penal Servitude,
ch. Hi., p. 145. He was made a DEAD
SET at by some other prisoners, who
schooled him for a career of vice and
crime.
1889. Globe, 2 Nov., p. 6, col. 2.
Certain persons of the ' thoughtful ' kind,
says Rod and Gun, are making a DEAD
SET against the field sports of Britain.
DEAD Sow's EYE, subs. phr.
(tailors'). — A badly worked
button-hole.
DEAD STUCK, adv. phr. (theatrical).
— Said of actors who break down
in the midst of a performance
through sudden lapse of memory.
DEAD SWAG, subs, (thieves'). —
* Dead stock ' or DEAD CARGO
(£».)» plunder that cannot be
disposed of. [SwAG = booty.]
DEAD TO RIGHTS, adv. phr. (com-
mon).— Certain ; without doubt.
An amplification of To RIGHTS
fr.**
1888. Cincinnatti Weekly Gazette,
22 Feb. Hill claims he has the thing
down DEAD TO RIGHTS, and that he will
make the farmers sweat who have been as-
serting that his claim was ' N.G.'
DEAD-'UN, subs, (thieves'). — i. An
uninhabited house. The cracks-
man who confines his attentions
to ' busting ' of this kind is, in Fr.,
tin nourrissettr.
1879. J. W. HORSLEY, in Macm.
Mag., xl., 505. Me and the screwsman
went to Gravesend, and I found a DEAD
'UN (uninhabited house).
2. (common). — A half-quartern
loaf. Cf., DEAD MAN, sense 2.
3. (turf). — A horse destined to
be scratched or not intended to
win, and against which odds may
be safely laid ; a SAFE 'UN (q.v.).
1864. Bailey s Magazine, June. These
alfresco speculators have their DEAD 'UNS,
and carry ' milking pails,' like their more
civilised brethren, privileged with the
entree to the clubs and the Corner.
1868. London Review, n July, p.
38, col. 2. The stable and owners might
safely lay against what was technically a
DEAD 'UN from the first.
1880. HAWLEY SMART, Social Sin-
nets, ch. v. " Lord, what DEAD 'UNS he
did back, to be sure !
Dead Unit for. 266
Death.
4. (common). — An empty
bottle. For synonyms, see DEAD
MAN.
1889. Bird o Freedom, 7 Aug., p. 3.
We submitted, and with her help were soon
surrounded with a formidable array of
DEAD 'UNS.
5. (theatrical). — An unpaid
super.
DEAD UNIT FOR [or AGAINST], adv.
phr. (colloquial). — Collective ad-
vocacy of (or opposition to) a
subject, principle, or line of
action. Cf., TO GO THE WHOLE
HOG.
1888. The Solid Muldoon (Ouray,
Colorado), The Eastern Press is a DEAD
UNIT against the passage of the Postal
Telegraph Bill.
DEAD-WOOD EARNEST, adv. phi.
(America n). — Quite earnest ;
'dead on.' Cf., IN DEAD
EARNEST.
1876. S. L. CLEMENS (' Mark Twain '),
Tom Sawyer. No ! oh, good licks, are
you in real DEAD-WOOD EARNEST ?
DEAD WRONG 'UN. — See WRONG
'UN.
DEADY (modern American, DEAD-
EYE), subs. (old). — Gin ; a special
brand of full proof spirit, also
known as STARK-NAKED (q.v.}.
[From Deady, a well-known gin-
spinner.] For synonyms, see
DRINKS.
1819. T.MOORE, Tom Crib" s Memorial
to Congress, p. 35. As we'd been sum-
mon'd thus, to quaff our DEADY o'er some
state affairs.
1834. SOUTHEY, The Doctor* inter-
chapter xvi. Some of the whole-hoggery
in the House of Commons he would desig-
nate by DEADY, or Wet and Heavy ; some
by Weak Tea, others by Blue-Ruin.
DEAL. THERE'S A DEAL OF GLASS
ABOUT, phr. (common). — Said of
men and things ; used as a com-?
pliment = showy, ' its the thing.'
To WET THE DEAL, verb. phr.
(common). — To ratify a bargain
by drinking ; to ' shake.'
1876. C. HINDLEY, Life and Adven-
tures of a Cheap Jack, p. 268. I shall be
back again shortly, when we will WET
THE DEAL.
To DO A DEAL, verb. phr.
(common). — To conclude a bar-
gain.
DEAL-SUIT, subs, (common). —A
coffin ; especially one supplied by
the parish. [In allusion to the
wood of which cheap coffins are
made.] For synonyms, see ETER-
NITY Box.
DEAN, subs. (Winchester College).
— A small piece of wood bound
round a BILL-BRIGHTER (</.v.);
that securing a fagot is called a
BISHOP.
DEANER, subs, (thieves').— A shil-
ling. [Origin uncertain ; possibly
related to Latin denarius. In
the 1 6th and iyth centuries,
denier = a coin — vide Nashe,
Shakspeare, Johnson, etc. Others
trace it to (a) the Cornish dinair ;
(b) Yiddish dinoh, a coin ; (c)
Gypsy deanee, a pound; (d] Lingua
Franca dinarly.] For synonyms,
see BLOW.
1857. SNOWDEN, Mag. Assistant,
3rd ed., p. 444. Shilling, DEANER, also
twelver.
1864. Times, 12 October, p. n, col. 6.
One woman said where's the DEANER ?
1879. J. W. HORSLEY, in Macm. Mag.,
xl., 501. I had been down three or four
days running, and could not buy anything
to earn a DEANER (shilling) out of.
DEAREST MEMBER. —
DEATH. To BE DEATH ON, verb.
phr. (common). — Very fond of,
or thoroughly master of — a meta-
phor of completeness ; the same
Death- Hu nter.
267
Deep.
as DEAD ON, A MARK ON, Or SOME
PUMPKINS ON. Cf., NUTS ON.
[Literally to prosecute or pursue
any course of action to the death.]
TO DRESS TO DEATH (col-
loquial). — To attire oneself in the
very extreme of fashion. In
America TO DRESS WITHIN AN
INCH OF ONE'S LIFE ; TO DRESS
UP DRUNK and TO DRESS TO
KILL. An old Cornish proverb
has DRESSED TO DEATH LIKE
SALLY HATCH (N. and Q., 3 ser.,
vi., 6). [Apparently a pun on
KILLING (q.V.).~\
1869. Newfoundland Fisheries [quoted
in De Vere]. The next day I met Davis
and Nye, my two chums, on board the
Little Rhody, DRESSED TO DEATH and
trunk empty, as they said of themselves.
DEATH-HUNTER, su&s. (common).
— I. A vendor of the last dying
speeches, or confessions of crimi-
nals ; a running patterer or
stationer.
1738. [From J. W. Jarvis and Son :
Cat. No. 40, p. 38], Ramble through
London, containing observations on
Beggars, Pedlars, Petticoat Pensioners,
DEATH HUNTERS, Humours of the
Exchange, etc., by a True-born English-
man [Title].
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. I., 228. The latter
include the ' running patterers,' or DEATH-
HUNTERS ; being men (no women)
engaged in vending last dying speeches
and confessions.
2. (popular). — An undertaker.
For synonyms, see COLD COOK.
? Old Song, ' Life's a Chase.'
And e'en the DEATH-HUNTER, in coffins
who deals Is at last hunted into a coffin.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
s.v.
DEATH OR GLORY BOYS. — See
BINGHAM'S DANDIES.
DEBBLISH, subs. (South African). —
A penny. For synonyms, see
WlNN.
DECAPITATE. — See CUT OFF ONE'S
HEAD.
DECENT, DECENTLY, DECENTISH,
adj. and adv. (colloquial). —
Moderate ; tolerable ; passably ;
fairly good.
DECOY-BIRD or DUCK, subs, (collo-
quial).— One employed to decoy
persons into a snare ; a BUTTONER
or BUG-HUNTER (q.v.}. Fr., un
allumeur, un chatouilleur^ or un
arrangeur.
DECUS, subs, (old).- -A crown piece.
[From the Latin, the motto decus
et tutamen on the rims of these
coins.] For synonyms, see
CAROON.
1688. T. SHADWELL, Squire of
Alsatia, ed. 1720, 2, vol. IV., p. 48.
Madam Hackum, to testify my gratitude,
I make bold to equip you with some
Meggs, DECUS'S, and Georges.
1822. SCOTT, Fort, of Nigel, ch.
xxiii. ' You see,1 he said, pointing to the
casket, ' that noble Master Grahame.
whom you call Green, has got the DECUSES
and the smelts.'
DEE,SU&S. (vagrants'). — I. A pocket-
book or reader. For synonyms,
see LEATHER.
2, (common). — A detective ;
also 'TEC, (q.v.). Cf., DEEKER,
and for synonyms, see NARK.
1886. Graphic, 30 Jan., p. 130, col.
i. A detective is known as a DEE and a
teck ; the former is principally used by
tramps and gipsies., and is properly D, the
initial letter of the word.
3. (common). — See D, sense 2.
DEEKER, subs. (old). — See quot.
1821. D. HAGGART, Life, Glossary,
p. 171. DEEKER, a thief kept in pay by a
constable.
DEEP, adj. (colloquial).— Artful ;
e.g.) 'a DEEP one.' [An extension
Deerstalker.
268 Demctunder for Glymmar.
of the figurative sense = remote
from comprehension, hard to
penetrate — usages frequent in
Biblical language.
1672-1726. VANBRUGH, The Mistake,
Act I. When you take us for fools, we
never take you for wise men. For my
part, in this present case, I take myself to
be mighty DEEP.
1688. SHADWELL, Sq. of Alsatia,
III., in wks. (1720) iv., 63. Fools ! nay,
there I am sure you are out : they are
all DEEP, they are very DEEP, and sharp.
1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 268. I can
scarcely believe my eyes. Oh ! he's a
DEEP one.
1880. A. ^ROLLOPE, The Dukes
Children, ch. vi. He was, too, very DEEP,
and some men, who could put up with his
other failings, could not endure that.
1890. Pall Mall Gaz., 17 Oct., p. 2,
col. 2. His Majesty the Sultan is ' a DEEP
one,' it is clear.
DEERSTALKER, subs, (popular).—
A felt hat. For synonyms, see
GOLGOTHA.
1870. London Figaro [letter dated
Dec. 9]. Either the wind must be bottled
up or the P. of W. must start the fashion of
wearing DEERSTALKERS ... in the windy
weather.
DEFERRED STOCK, subs, (city).—
Inferior soup. [A play upon
words.] For synonyms, see GLUE.
1871. Pall Mall Gaz., 22 May. A
few years ago, at an economical Chan-
cellor of Exchequer's dinner on the Queen's
Birthday, the Chairman of one of the
Revenue Boards, after tasting the soup,
asked the Governor of the Bank of Eng-
land, who happened to be sitting next to
him at the table, ' What is this ? ' ' DE-
FERRED STOCK, I suspect,' replied the
Governor.
DEGEN, DEGAN, or DAGEN, subs.
(old). — A sword. [From the
German.]
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
Nun the DEGEN, steal the sword.
1827. BULWER LYTTON, Pelhatn, p.
325. ed. 1864. Tip him the DEGEN.
DELICATE, subs. (vagrants'). — A
LURKER'S (q.v.} false subscription
book.
DELL, subs. (old). — I. A young
girl; a virgin ; a young wanton.
Later, a mistress : cf., DOXY.
For synonyms, see TITTER.
1567. HARMAN, Caveat, p. 75. A
DELL is a yonge wenche, able for genera-
tion, and not yet knowen or broken by the
vpright man.
1574-1637. BEN JONSON, Metain.
Gipsies. Sweet doxies and DELLS My
Roses and Nells.
1609. THOMAS DEKKER, Lanthorne
and Candlelight. Docked the DELL, for
a Coper meke His wach shall feng a
Frounces Nab-chete.
1622. HEAD AND KIRKMAN, English
Rogue. I met a DELL, I viewed her well.
1694. DUNTON, Ladies' Dictionary.
DELLS are young bucksom wenches, ripe,
and prone to venery, but have not yet
been debauch'd.
1706. E. COLES, Eng. Diet. DELL,
Doxy, a wench.
1834. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood)
bk. I., ch. ix. He was seized . . . by the
bailiff of Westminster when dead drunk,
his liquor having been drugged by his
DELLS — and was shortly afterwards
hanged at Tyburn.
DELOG, subs, (back slang). — Gold.
For synonyms, see REDGE.
DELO-NAMMOW, subs, (back slang).
— An old woman. For synonyms,
see OLD GEEZER.
DELVE IT, verb. phr. (tailors'). —
To hurry with one's work, head
down and sewing fast. Cf., DIG,
•verb.
DEMAND THE Box, verb. phr.
(nautical).— To call for a bottle.
DEMAUNDER FOR GLYMMAR, subs,
phr. (old). — Sec quot.
1567. HARMAN, Caveat, p. 61.
These DEMAUNDERS FOR GLYMMAR be
for the moste parte wemen ; for glymmar
Demi-doss.
269
Dep.
in their language, is fyre. These goe
with fayned lycences and counterfayted
wrytings, hauing the hands and scales of
suche gentlemen as dwelleth nere to the
place where they fayne them selues to
haue bene burnt, and their goods con-
sumed with fyre. They wyll most
lamentable demaunde your charitie, and
wyll quicklye shed salte teares, they be so
tender harted. They wyll neuer begge in
that Shiere where their losses (as they say)
was.
DEM I- DOSS, subs, (vagrants').— See
quot.
1886. Daily News, 3 Nov., p. 5, col. 5.
Others, unable to find the coin wherewith
to obtain even a DEMI-DOSS, i.e., penny
sleep.
DEMI-REP, subs, (old slang, now
recognised). — A woman of doubt-
ful repute. [A contraction of
demi-reputation.] For synonyms,
see BARRACK HACK and TART.
1750. FIELDING, Tomjones,\k.. XV.,
ch. ix. That character which is vulgarly
called a DEMI-REP ; that is to say, a woman
who intrigues with every man she likes,
under the name and appearance of virtue
... in short, whom everybody knows to
be what nobody calls her.
1754. Connoisseur, No. 4. An order
of females lately sprung up ... usually
distinguished by the denomination of DEMI-
REPS ; a word not to be found in any of
our dictionaries.
1846-48. THACKERAY, Vanity Fair,
vol. II., ch. xx. So they went on talking
about dancers, fights, drinking, DEMI-
REPS, until Macmurdo came down.
DEMNITION Bow-wows, subs. phr.
(common). — The ' dogs ' which
spell ' ruin.' Originally a
Dickensism (see quot., 1838).
For analogues, see DEAD BROKE.
1838. DICKENS, Nicholas Nickleby,
II., 32. ' I beg its little pardon,' said Mr.
Mantalini, dropping the handle of the
mangle, and folding his arms together,
' It's all up with its handsome friend. He
has gone to the DEMNITION BOW-WOWS.
1888. New York Herald, 25 March.
There are some men who, if they don't
make twice as much as they expect to
make, will cry hard times, and say that
general business is going to the DEMNITION
BOW-WOWS, but these men would say the
same thing in any event.
1889. The Nation, 19 Dec., p. 499,
col. i. Our great farming industry — the
very soil of National growth — is not going
to the DEMNITION BOW-WOWS.
DEMNITION HOT, adv. phr.
(American). — Exceedingly warm;
a heat supposed to be akin to
that of the place where they don't
rake out the fires at night.
1888. San Francisco Weekly Ex-
aminer, 22 March. It was DEMNITION
HOT, and I commenced to hunt for soft
spots in my saddle.
DEMON, subs. (Australian prison).
— I. A policeman. For synonyms,
see BEAK and COPPER.
2. (colloquial). — A super-
excellent adept ; e.g., THE
DEMON BOWLER = Mr. Spofforth;
THE DEMON JOCKEY = Fordham
or Fred Archer, and so forth.
DEN, subs, (common). — A place
where intimates are received ;
one's * diggings ' or ' snuggery. '
[In Anglo-Saxon = a bed, cave, or
lurking place.] For synonyms,
see DIGGINGS.
1865. Punch, vol. XLVIII., p. in
COl. 2, S.V.
DENNIS, subs. (old). — A small
walking stick.
DEP, sttbs. (common). — i. A deputy;
specifically the night porter or
chamberlain at padding or doss-
ing kens.
1870. C. DICKENS, Mystery of Edwin
Drood, ch. v. I'm man-servant up at the
Travellers' Twopenny in Gas Works Gar-
ding, this thing explains, all man-servants
at Travellers' Lodgings is named DEPUTY
2. (Christ's Hospital).— A
deputy GRECIAN, i.e., a boy in
the form below the GRECIANS.
Derby.
270
Deuce.
DERBY. — See DARBY.
DERREY, siibs. (thieves'). — An eye-
glass. TO TAKE THE DERREY,
(tailors') = to quiz, ridicule.
DERRICK, subs. (old). — The gallows.
[A corruption of Theodoric, the
name of the public hangman
at the end of the sixteenth
and the beginning of the
seventeenth centuries.] Now
the name of an apparatus,
resembling a crane. Also, used
as a verb = to hang ; apparently
the earliest recorded sense. For
synonyms, see NUBBING CHEAT.
1600. W. KEMP, Nine Days' Wonder,
in Arber's English Garner, vol. VIII. , p. 37.
One that . . . would pol his father, DERICK
his dad ! do anything, how ill soever, to
please _his apish humour.
1607. DEKKER, Jests to Make yon
Merie, in wks. (Grosart), ii., 318. For
might I have beene her Judge, shee should
haue had her due, and danst DERRIKS
dance in a hempen halter.
1609. DEKKER, Gufs Horne-Booke,
chap. ii. The Neapolitan will (like
DERICK, the hangman) embrace you with
one arme, and rip your guts with the other.
DERWENTER, subs. (Australian). —
A convict. [From the penal
settlement on the banks of the
Derwent, Tasmania.]
DESPATCHERS, subs, (gamesters').
— False dice with two sides,
double four, five, and six.
1856. Times, 27 Nov., s.v.
DESPERATE, and DESPERATELY,
adj. and adv. (colloquial). — A
metaphor of excessiveness ; e.g. ,
DESPERATELY MASHED = OVCI
head and ears in love.
DETRIMENTAL, subs, (society). —
An ineligible suitor ; also a male
flirt.
1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 133, col. i.
Defining that zero of for tune to stand below
which constitutes a DETRIMENTAL.
1859. WHITTY, Political Portraits,
p. 113. The fact is, that the DETRIMEN-
TALS won't work ; born into shifty afflu-
ence, it is easier to struggle on in a false
positioa than to struggle out of it.
1886. Household Words, 13 March,
p. 400. A DETRIMENTAL, in genteel slang,
is a lover, who, owing to his poverty is
ineligible as a husband; or one who pro-
fesses to pay attentions to a lady without
serious intention of marriage, and thereby
discourages the intentions of others.
DETRIMENTAL-CLUB,.TW AT. (society).
—The Reform Club.
DEUCE, DEWCE, or DEUSE, subs.
(common). — I. The devil; per-
dition. Also used as an ejacu-
lative, e.g., THE DEUCE ! WHAT
THE DEUCE ! WHO THE DEUCE !
DEUCE TAKE YOU ! etc. [WEDG-
WOOD : ' The evolution of DEUCE
from Thurs.t the name of a
Scandinavian demon is fully
vouched.' SKEAT : Latin deus,
God, deus^ borrowed from French
usage, being found as an inter-
jection in early English works.
Low German duus, Ger. daus
are used similarly and may have
the same origin ; others connect it
with Armor, dus, teuz, a goblin.]
For synonyms, see SKIPPER.
b. 1670, d. 1729. CONGREVE. It was
the prettiest prologue as he wrote it ; well,
the DEUCE take me if I ha'n't forgot it.
1754. B. MARTIN, Eng. Diet, (and
ed.), s.v. DEWCE.
1780. MRS. COWLEY, The Belles
Stratagem, Act v., Sc. i. Miss C. DEUCE
take her ! She's six years younger than I
am.
1827. R. B. PEAKE, Comfortable
Lodgings, Act I., Sc. iii., De C. I am
the Intendant of Police, sir. Sir H. The
DEUCE you are !
1837. BARHAM, /. L. (Jackdaw of
Rheims). There's a cry and a shout, And
a DEUCE of a rout, And nobody seems to
know what they're about.
Deuced.
271
Devil.
1854. AYTOUN AND MARTIN, Bon
Gaultier Ballads. 'To a forget-me-
not.' I can't tell WHO THE DEUCE it was
That gave me this Forget-me-not.
2. (vagrants'). — Twopence.
1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4th
ed.), p. 12, s.v.
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 276. 'Give
him a DEUCE '(20!.).
3. (gamesters'). — The two at
dice or cards.
TO PLAY THE DEUCE or DEVIL
WITH, verb. phr. (common). —
To send, or be sent, to rack and
ruin.
1881. JAS. PAYN, Grape from a
Thorn, ch. i. I have a presentiment that
the cooking will PLAY THE DEUCE with my
digestion.
1885. Indoor Paupers, p. 89. Her
drinking PLAYED THE DEUCE with the
shop.
THE DEUCE TO PAY, phr.
(common). — Unpleasant or awk-
ward consequences to be faced ;
see DEVIL TO PAY.
1854. THACKERAY, The Rose and
the Ring, p. 69. There has been such a
row, and disturbance, and quarrelling, and
fighting, and chopping of heads off, and
THE DEUCE TO PAY, that I'm inclined to
go back to Cumtartary.
1869. MRS. H. WOOD, Roland Yorke,
ch. xxxiii. One or both of 'em . .
report me for negligence ! I get a curt
telegram to come to town, and here's THE
DEUCE TO PAY !
DEUCED, adj. (common). — Devilish;
excessive ; confounded. Also
adverbially. [From DEUCE (q.v.)t
+ ED.]
1836. MICHAEL SCOTT, The Cruise
of the Midge, vol. I. [ed. i86o],_ p. 160.
Quacco all this while was twisting and
turning himself, and, although evidently
in a DEUCED quandary, trying to laugh
the affair off as a joke.
DEUSEA-VILLE, subs. (old). — The
Country. — See DAISYVILLE.
DEUSEA-VILLE STAMPERS, subs,
phr. (old). — Country carriers.
DEVIL, subs, (common). — i. For-
merly a barrister who DEVILS, or
' gets up, ' a case for a leader ; as
in A Tale of Two Cities, Sydney
Carton for Mr. Stryver. Now
common for anyone hacking for
another. — (See quots., 1889.)
1872. Echo, 14 Nov. Mr. Archibald,
the Attorney-General's DEVIL is to be
made a judge. Well, other DEVILS have
been made judges of. Sir James Hannen,
we are told, was a DEVIL once.
1873. Daily Telegraph, 12 Feb.
It will not be possible even to send a
telegram to a French journal during a
sitting. Not a word must be printed
until the President's DEVIL has distri-
buted the Officiel to the different office
boys who will henceforth, etc
1889. Telegram. M— 84, B—
Street, London, E.G. Strange letter re-
ceived. Will you please see DEVIL at my
chambers? R — . [In original telegram
the word ' devil ' was queried by the P.O.
authorities !]
1889. GEORGE R. SIMS, The Authors
Ghost. ' Who are you ? ' I asked in dis-
may. ' I'm a DEVIL . . .' 'A what ! ' I
exclaimed with a start. 'A DEVIL ... I
give plots and incidents to popular authors,
sir, write poetry for them, drop in situa-
tions, jokes, work up their rough ma-
terial: in short, sir, I DEVIL for them.'
1890. Speaker, 22 Feb., p. 211, col.
2. No one who is not in the swim can
have any conception of theamount of work
and worry that devolves upon a counsel in
leading practice at the criminal bar. . . ,
He has to do the best he can, with the as-
sistance of juniors and DEVILS.
2. (printers'). — An errand boy
or young apprentice ; in the early
days of the craft, the boy who
took the printed sheets as they
came from the press. P>., un
attrape-science.
1754. Connoisseur, No. 9. Our pub-
lisher, printer, corrector, DEVIL, 'or any
other employed in our service.
1757. FOOTE, Author, Act I. A
printer's prime minister, called a DEVIL,
Devil.
272
Devil.
1859. Punch, vol. XXXVI, p. 82.
'An author's paradise.' A place where
there are no printers' DEVILS.
1863. ALEX. SMITH, Dreamthorp,
p. 211. He wrote in a leisurely world,
when there was plenty of time for writing
and reading ; long before the advent of the
printer's DEVIL or of Mr. Mudie.
3. (nautical). — See quot.
1883. Illustrated London News,
16 June, p. 603, col. 2. It is proposed to
prevent the use of the DEVIL, a kind of
sharpened anchor, at the bows of a trawler
for cutting the nets of drifters in the
North Sea.
4. (old). —A firework.
1742. FIELDING, Joseph Andrews,
bk. III., ch. vii. The captain, perceiving
an opportunity, pinned a cracker or DEVIL
to the cassock, and then lighted it.
5. (licensed victuallers'). —
Gin seasoned with capsicums.
Cf., following sense.
1828. G. SMEATON, Doings in
London. The extract of Capsicums or
extract of Grains of Paradise is known in
the gin-selling trade by the appellation of
the DEVIL. They are manufactured by
putting a quantity of small East India
chillies into a bottle of spirits of wine and
keeping it closely stopped for about a
month.
6. (common). — A grilled bone
seasoned with mustard and cay-
enne. Cf., ATTORNEY.
7. (military). — A sand-storm.
1889. Daily News, 8 July. 'The
Camp at Wimbledon." They raised also
clouds of dust that went whirling across
the common in spiral cones like desert
DEVILS.
8. (common). — A species of
firewood soaked in resin.
THE or A DEVIL OF [A THING],
adj. and adv. (colloquial). — An
indefinite intensitive : e.g., DEVIL
of a mess, of a woman, of a row,
etc.
1602. SHAKSPEARE, Twelfth Night,
ii., 3. The DEVIL, a puritan that he is.jor
anything constantly.
1836. MICHAEL SCOTT, Cruise of the
Midge\&&. 1860], p. 102. A DEVIL OF A
good fight he made of it.
1836. MICHAEL SCOTT, Cruise of the
Midge [ed. 1860], p. 298. The DEVIL A
THING was there in sight, not even a small
white speck of a sail.
AMERICAN DEVIL, subs. phr.
(workmen's). — A steam whistle
or ' hooter ' ; used in place of a
bell for summoning to work.
1872. Manchester Guardian, 24
Sept. Mr. Powell's Bill contains abun-
dant powers for suppressing the vile nui-
sance known as the AMERICAN DEVIL, and
should any man suffer from it in future he
will have nobody to thank but himself.
BLUE DEVILS. — See ante.
LITTLE (or YOUNG) DEVIL,
subs. phr. (common). — A half
playful, half sarcastic, address ; a
term of endearment ; e.g. , YOU
LITTLE DEVIL. Cf., YOU YOUNG
TINKER.
1841. R. B. PEAKE, Court and City,
Act i., Sc. i. My wife was such an unrea-
sonable LITTLE DEVIL, as to ask me forty
questions about my staying out so late.
Verb (common). — i. To act
as a DEVIL (q.v., subs.); to per-
form routine or _detail work for
another.
1872. Daily Telegraph, 30 Nov.
Letter, 'Called to the Bar.' Then I took
legislative rambles in the Courts, so that
I might see practice, and that practitioners
might see me ; and then I DEVILLED and
reported a little.
1883. Graphic, 12 May, p. 478, col.
2. The practice prevailing among eminent
counsel of undertaking more cases than
they can possibly manage, and handing
over some to the juniors who DEVIL for
them.
2. (American cadet). — To
victimize.
WHAT, WHO, WHEN, WHERE,
or How THE DEVIL, phr.
(common). — An expletive of
wonder, vexation, etc.
Devil.
273
Devil.
b. 1688, d. 174-1. POPE [quoted in
Annandale]. The things we know are
neither rich nor rare ; But wonder HOW
THE DEVIL they got there.
1776. DAVID GAR RICK, Bon Ton, or
High Life Above Stairs, Act ii., Sc. i.
Sir. T. Why, WHAT THE DEVIL do you
make one at these masqueradings.
1780. MRS. COWLEY, The Belles
Stratagem, Act i., Sc. 3. Har. WHO
THE DEVIL could have foreseen that?
1827. R. B. PEAKE, Comfortable
Lodgings, Act i, Sc. 3. WHAT THE
DEVIL is all this about?
1836. MICHAEL SCOTT, Cruise of the
Midge [Ry. ed. 1860], p. 134. How THE
DEVIL can you get anything out of an
empty vessel ?
TO PLAY THE DEVIL WITH,
^>erb. phr. (colloquial). — To ruin
or molest.
1821. EGAN, Tom and Jerry, p. 46.
The passions, as I've said, are far from
evil, But if not well confined they PLAY
THE DEVIL.
TO PULL THE DEVIL BY THE
TAIL, phr. (colloquial). — To go
to ruin headlong ; also to be
reduced to one's last shift. Cf.,
TO PLAY THE DEVIL WITH.
1890. European Mail, 2 Aug., p. 30,
col. 2. The immense disproportion
between the solid assets and the liabilities
of the enterprise made experienced
Parisian financiers say from the first that
the company was PULLING THE DEVIL BY
THE TAIL, and a perusal of M. Monchi-
court's report must confirm this view.
TO WHIP THE DEVIL ROUND
THE STUMP, verb. phr. (Ameri-
can).— To enjoy the sweets of
wickedness and yet escape the
penalty.
1857. New m York Evening Post,
While Mr. Jones is describing his wants in
the money line, and telling the president
how near through he is, that officer is
carrying on a mental addition it may be
after this manner : Jones, you're a clever
fellow, but Smith tells me you are engaged
in a coal-stock operation. I have heard
also that you have been dabbling in Erie.
There is a want of candor now, I perceive,
in the statement of your affairs. There,
you are now WHIPPING THE DEVIL
AROUND THE STUMP \ I see his foot.
1871. DE VERB, Americanisms,
p. 187. Nor is the slang phrase : TO WHIP
THE DEVIL AROUND THE STUMP tO be
traced very clearly to the backwoods.
1872. HALDEMAN, Pennsylvania
Dutch. I WHIPPED THE DEVIL ROUND
THE STUMP, And gave a cut at every
jump.
HAUL DEVIL, PULL BAKER,
phr. (colloquial). — To contend
with varying fortunes. In the
sense of endeavouring to over-
reach, a variant is DIAMOND CUT
DIAMOND.
(1889. Cornhill Mag., July, p. 99. I
can't get proper accounts from her ; and
it's a regular case of PULL DEVIL, PULL
BAKER, whenever I want to look at the
trades-people's books.
AND THE DEVIL KNOWS WHAT
or WHO, phr. (colloquial). —A
term used vaguely and indefinitely
to include details not specifically
mentioned or known.
1717. MRS. CENTLIVRE, A Bold
Stroke for a Wife, Act iii., Sc. i. Per.
Why, what a pack of trumpery has this
rogue picked up ! His pagod, polu-
flosboio, his zonos moros musphonons, AND
THE DEVIL KNOWS WHAT.
TO GO TO THE DEVIL, phr.
(colloquial).— To go to rack and
ruin. Go TO THE DEVIL ! =
begone ! A summary form of
dismissal with no heed as to what
may become of the person who is
sent about his business.
1801. T. DIBDIN, The Birthday*
Act i., Sc. 2. Capt. Hold your tongue,
Junk ; you are a libellous rascal. You,
and your box, too, may GO TO THE
DEVIL.
TO HOLD A LIGHT Or CANDLE
TO, Or BURN A CANDLE BEFORE,
THE DEVlL,//;r. (colloquial). — To
propitiate through fear ; to assist
or wink at wrong doing. Shaks-
peare (Merchant of Venice, Act
ii. , Sc. 6), employs ' What ! must
1$
Devil,
274
Devil.
I hold a candle to my shame,' in
much the same sense. [From the
practice of burning candles before
the images of saints, etc.]. NOT
FIT TO HOLD A CANDLE TO
THE DEVIL = a simile of in-
feriority. TO HOLD A CANDLE
TO ANOTHER = to assist in,
occupy a subordinate position, or
(see quot., 1859) to compare to
another.
c. 1461. In Paston Letters, II., 73
(ed. Gairdner). For it is a common pro-
verbe, ' A man must sumtyme SET A
CANDEL BEFOR THE DEWLE ; ' and there-
for thow it be not alder most mede and
profytabyl, yet if ij harmys the leste is to
be take.
1557. TUSSER, Husbandrie, p. 148.
Though not for hope of good, Yet for the
feare of euill, Thou maist find ease so
proffering up A CANDELL TO THE DKUILL.
f 1672. WYCHERLEY, Love in a Wood,
I., i., wks. (1713), 346. You cannot HOLD
A CANDLE TO THE DEVIL.
1705. WARD, Hudibras Redim-vus,
Vol. I., pt. III., p. 17. TO HOLD A CANDLE
TO THE DEVIL, Is not the means to stop
this evil.
1828. SCOTT, Fair Maid of Perth,
ii., 213. Here have I been HOLDING A
CANDLE TO THE DEVIL, to show him the
way to mischief.
1859. H. KINGSLEY, Geoffrey Hamlyn,
ch. xxxii. A Frenchman is conceited
enough, but, by George, he can't HOLD A
CANDLE to a Scotchman.
THE DEVIL, or THE DEVIL
AND ALL TO PAY,///r. (colloquial).
— A simile of fruitless effort ;
awkward consequences to be
faced. [Nautical : originally,
' There's the devil to pay and no
pitch hot ' ; the ' devil ' being
any seam in a vessel, awkward to
caulk, or in sailors' language ' to
pay.' Hence by confusion THE
DEUCE TO PAY (q.V.).]
1711. SWIFT, Journal to Stella, 28
Sept. Letter 31. And then there will be
THE DEVIL AND ALL TO PAY.
1761. CoLMAN,/eafans Wife, III., in
wks. (1777), i., 69. There's the DEVIL TO
PAY in meddling with them,
1762. FOOTE, Liar, iii., 3. Sir,
here has been the DEVIL TO PAY within.
1836. MICHAEL SCOTT, Cruise of the
Midge. [Ry. ed. 1860], p. 127. Here was
the DEVIL TO PAY with a vengeance.
1837. R. H. BARHAM. The Ingolds-
by Legends. The Execution (ed. 1862).
p. 198. Hollo ! Hollo ! Here's a rum go.
Why, Captain !— My Lord !— Here's THE
DEVIL TO PAY !— The fellow's been cut down
and taken away !
1866. G. ELIOT, Felix Holt, ch. xxi.
He made a fool of himself with marrying
at Vespul ; and there was THE DEVIL TO
PAY with the girl's relations.
TALK OF THE DEVIL AND
YOU'LL SEE HIS HORNS or TAIL,
phr. (colloquial). — Said of a
person who, being the subject of
conversation, unexpectedly makes
an appearance. Fr., parlez des
anges et vous en voyez les ailes.
b. 1664, d. 1721. M. PRIOR. Hans
Carvel. Since therefore 'tis to combat evil,
'Tis lawful to employ the Devil, Forthwith
the Devil did appear, For NAME HIM and
HE'S ALWAYS NEAR.
DEVIL-MAY-CARE, adj. (col-
loquial).— Rollicking ; reckless ;
rash.
1822-36. JNO. WILSON, Nodes Amb.
I., 274. [The shepherd has thrown back
to the fire a live coal.] Belyve the blisters
'11 be rising like foam-bells ; but DEIL MAY
CARE.
1836. DICKENS, Pickwick, ch. xlix.,
p. 428. He was a mighty free and easy,
roving, DEVIL-MAY-CARE sort of person, was
my Uncle, gentlemen.
1839. LEVER, Harry Lorrequer,
ch. xii. There was also a certain DEVIL-
MAY-CARE recklessness about the self-
satisfied swagger of his gait.
1849. ALBERT SMITH, in Gabamiin
London (Acrobats). Unsettled, wandering,
and DEVIL-MAY-CARE as his disposition may
be, he cannot be called idle.
1863. HON. MRS. NORTON, Lost
and Saved, p. 33. Treherne had a hot
twinge of doubt, in spite of his DEVIL-MAY-
CARE style of writing, whether Lewellyn
would answer him at all.
1865. Punch, vol. XLVIIL, p. 106.
Fechter's acting [as Robert Macaire] in
Tlie Roadside Inn may be described as
the DEVIL-MAY-CARE Style,
Devil Dodger.
275
Devil Dodger.
DEVIL TAKE, or FETCH, or
SEND, Or SNATCH, Or FLY AWAY
WITH, YOU, ME, HIM! etc.,
phr. (colloquial). — An impre-
cation of impatience. Fr., le
boulanger ? entrolle en son pasclin.
1837. R. H. BARHAM, In^oldsby
Legends (ed. 1862), p. 330. Don't use
naughty words, in the next place, and
ne'er in your language adopt a bad habit of
swearin'. Never say, ' DEVIL TAKE ME,'
Or ' SHAKE ME,' Or ' BAKE ME,' Or SUch-
like expressions. Remember Old Nick,
To take folks at their word, is remarkably
quick.
THERE'S THE DEVIL AMONG
THE TAILORS, phr. (common).
— A row is going on. [Ed-
wards: — Oiiginating in a riot
at the Haymarket when Dowton
announced the performance for
his benefit, of a burlesque entitled
'The Tailors: a Tragedy for
Warm Weather.' Many thou-
sands of journeymen tailors con-
gregated, and interrupted the
performances. Thirty-three were
brought up at Bow Street next
day. — See Biographica Dramalica
under ' Tailors.']
WHEN THE DEVIL is BLIND,
adv. phr. (colloquial). — Never,
i.e., in a month of Sundays;
said of anything unlikely to
happen. For synonyms, see
GREEK KALENDS.
DEVIL DODGER, subs, (common). —
" A clergyman. Also, by implica-
tion, anyone of a religious turn of
mind.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. — Devil
catcher, driver, pitcher, or scolder ;
snub devil ; bible pounder ; duck
that grinds the gospel mill ; com-
mister; camister ; sky-pilot; chim-
ney-sweep ; rat ; rum (Johnson) ;
pantiler ; cushion smiter, duster,
or thumper; couple, or buckle,
beggar ; rook ; gospel grinder ;
earwig ; one-in-ten (tramps ' = a
tithe-monger); finger-post; parish
prig ; parish bull ; holy Joe ;
green apron ; black cattle (collec-
tively) ; crow ; the cloth (collec-
tively) ; white choker ; patrico ;
black coat ; black fly ; glue pot ;
gospel postillion ; prunella ;
pudding - sleeves ; puzzle - text ;
schism - monger ; cod ; Black
Brunswicker ; spiritual flesh -
broker ; head-clerk of the Dox-
ology Works ; Lady Green ; fire-
escape ; gospel sharp ; padre
(Anglo-Indian) ; pound-text.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. — Un
radicon (thieves') ; tin otage
(popular : = hostage, in allusion to
events under the Commune of
1871); un radis noir (familiar :
also a police officer. In allusion
to ' the cloth ') ; im ratichon
(pop. from ratisise, rase = shaved);
nn sanglier (thieves' : a wild boar,
but also a play upon words sans
without, + glier, the infernal
regions) ; un raze or razi (thieves');
un rochet (thieves' : a surplice) ;
un pante en robe (thieves' : ' a
cove in a gown,' also a judge);
un chasublard (popular); une
calotte (fam. : le regiment de la
calotte = the skull-cap brigade,
i.e., the company of the Society
of Jesus); un corbeau (pop. : =
crow) ; un couar. (popular) ; un
babillard (thieves' : especially a
confessor, a ' blab-monger') ; un
bichot (a bishop) ; une enseigne de
cimctiere (' a cemetery signpost.'
Cf., SKY-PILOT and FINGER-
POST) ; tin baton de reglisse
(thieves': = a stick of liquorice.
Also a police-officer) ; un bar-
bichon (popular : a preaching friar.
From barbe = beard, in allusion to
the long beard characteristic of
the order).
Devil-Drawer. 276 Devils-Delight.
GERMAN SYNONYMS. — Herrle
(especially applied to Catholic
priests). Lefranz or Lefrenz (a
transposition of Franzle or Franzle
= the Franciscan. Liber Vaga-
torum Lefrtnzin, = a priest's
harlot, still popular in N. Ger-
many) ; Schocherer (from Hebrew
schochar= black. Cf.t analogous
English terms) ; Schwarzfarber
(Schwarz = black ; Fdrber = a
dyer).
ITALIAN SYNONYMS. — Chiod-
rino ; capellano rosso (a cardinal ;
'a red chaplain') ; farfoio ( = a
monk ; farfoia> a nun) ; rossignolo
(= 'a nightingale') ; pisto or
pistolfo (Michel : l parce qu'il sttit
le condamne a la piste ').
SPANISH SYNONYM.-— Cleri-
guillo ( = a little cleric : both in-
sult and endearment).
1791. LACKING-TON, Memoirs, Letter
vi. [ed. 1803]. . These DEVIL-DODGERS hap-
pened to be so very powerful (that is,
noisy) that they soon sent John home,
crying out he should be damn'd.
1889. Comhill Mag., Jan., p. 50.
He's just a kind of a fine-haired cuss— a
gambler, or a DEVIL-DODGER. I reckon
. . .I'm open ter bet he's a preacher.
DEVIL-DRAWER, subs. (old). — An
indifferent artist.
DEVILISH, adv. (colloquial).— Used
intensitively. Cf.t AWFULLY,
and BEASTLY.
_ 1755. ^ The World, No 140. How
arbitrary is language ! and how does the
custom of mankind join words, that reason
has put asunder. Thus we often hear of
hell-fire cold, of DEVILISH handsome, and
the like.
1780. MRS. COWLEY, The Belles
Stratagem, iii., i. I tell you, sir, that, for
all that, she's DEV'LISH sensible.
1871. SIR M. LOPEZ, Speech on Army
Bill, H. of C., 3 July. It was DEVILISH
hard — he meant very hard — to lay it.
DEVIL'S BED-POSTS, or DEVIL'S
FOUR- POST ER,subs. phr. (cards').
— The four of clubs ; held as an
unlucky 'turn-up.'
1879. J. C. J., in N. and Q., 5 S.,
xii., 473. In London I have always
heard the four of clubs called the DEVIL'S
BEDPOST, and also that it is the worst
turn-up one could have.
DEVIL'S- BON ES,SU&S. (old). — Dice;
also DEVIL'S TEETH. Cf.t DEVIL'S
BOOKS.
1664. ETHEREGE, Comical Revenge,
II., iii., in wks. (1704), 27. I do not
understand dice : I understand good pas-
ture and drink — hang the DEVIL'S BONES.
1822. SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel, ch.
xxiii. A gamester, one who deals with
the DEVIL'S BONES and the doctors.
DEVIL'S-BOOKS, subs, (common).—
Cards. [Of Presbyterian origin ;
in reproof of a synonymous term
— KING'S BOOKS, or more fully,
THE HISTORY OF THE FOUR
KINGS (Fr.,tivre des quatre rois). ]
Also BOOKS OF BRIEFS (Fr., la
cartouchiere a portees).
1729. SWIFT, Intelligencer, No. 4,
p. 43 (2nd ed.). Cards are the devil's own
invention, for which reason, time out of
mind, they are and have been called the
DEVIL'S BOOKS.
18(?). THACKERAY, Character
Sketches (Capt. Rook and Mr. Pigeon).
I often think that the DEVIL'S BOOKS, as
cards are called, are let out to us from Old
Nick's circulating library.
DEVIL'S-CLAWS, subs, (thieves').—
The broad arrow on convicts'
uniforms.
DEVIL'S-COLOURS or LIVERY, subs.
(common). — Black arid yellow.
DEVIL'S - DAUGHTER, subs, (com-
mon).— A shrew.
DEVIL'S-DELIGHT. To KICK UP
THE DEVIL'S DELIGHT, verbal
phr. (common). — To make a
disturbance,
277
Devil's Ozvn.
1854. WHYTE MELVILLE, General
Bounce, ch. xv. His wives, five or six on
'em, was yowlin", and cryin', and KICKIN"
UP THE DEVIL'S DELIGHT.
1863. CHAS. READE, Hard Cask, I.,
278. Well then, speak quick, both of you,
said Sharpe, or I'll lay ye both by the heels.
Ye black scoundrels, what business have
you in the Captain's cabin, KICKING UP
THE DEVIL'S DELIGHT ?
DEVIL'S - DOZEN, subs. (old). —
Thirteen ; the original BAKER'S-
DOZEN (y.v.). [From the num-
ber of witches supposed to sit
down together at a ' Sabbath.'
In Fr. le boulanger (the baker) =
the devil.]
DEVIL'S - DUNG, subs. (old). —
Asafoetida : the old pharmaceu-
tical name. [From the smell.]
Now recognised.
1604. DEKKER, Honest Wh.,'m. wks.
(1873), "• 4°- Fust. The DIVEI.'S DUNG
in thy teeth : I'll be welcome whether thou
wilt or no.
1759. STERNE, 7'ristram Shandy,
vol. VIII., ch. xi. 'Tis all pepper, garlic,
staragen, salt, and DEVIL'S DUNG.
1804. C. K. SHARPE, in Correspon-
dence (1888), i. 203. I devoured loads of
DEVIL'S DUNG rounded into pills.
DEVIL'S- DUST, subs, (trade). — i.
Old cloth shredded for re-manu-
facture. [In allusion both to the
swindle and to the 'DUST 'or 'flock'
produced by the disintegrating
machine which is called a 'devil.'
The practice and the name are
old. Latimer, in one of his ser-
mons before Edward the Sixth,
treating of trade rascality, re-
marked that manufacturers could
stretch cloth seventeen yards long,
into a length of seven-and-twenty
yards : ' When they have brought
him to that perfection,' he con-
tinues, ' they have a pretty feat to
thick him again. He makes me
a powder for it, and plays the
pothicary. They call it flock-
powder, they do so incorporate it
to the cloth, that it is wonderful
to consider ; truly a good inven-
tion. Oh that so goodly wits
should be so applied ; they may
well deceive the people, but they
cannot deceive God. They were
wont to make beds of flocks, and
it was a good bed too. Now they
have turned their flocks into pow-
der, to play the false thieves with
it.' Popularised by Mr. Ferrand
in a speech before the House of
Commons, March 4, 1842 (Han-
sard, 3 S, Ixi., p. 140) when he
tore a piece of cloth made from
DEVIL'S DUST, into shreds to prove
its worthlessness.] Also SHODDY
1840. CARLYLE, Misc., iv., 239.
Does it beseem thee to weave cloth of
DEVIL'S DUST instead of true wool, and cut
and sew it as if those wert not a tailor but
the fraction of a very tailor ?
1851. MAYHEW, London Lab. and
Lon. Poor, II., p. 30.
1864. Times, 2 Nov. It is not many
years since Mr. Ferrand denounced the
DEVIL'S DUST of the Yorkshire woollen
manufacturers ; this DEVIL'S DUST arises
from the grand translation of old cloth
into new.
2. (military) — Gunpowder.
1883. HAWLEY SMART, Hard Lines,
ch. i. One looks tip at the snow-white
walls . . and then remembers grimly what
a mess the DEVIL'S DUST, as used by
modern artillery, would make of them in
these days.
DEVIL'S GUTS, subs. (old). — A sur-
veyor's chain.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
DEVIL'S OWN, subs, (military). —
I. The Eighty- Eight Foot. [A
contraction of THE DEVIL'S OWN
CON NAUGHT BOYS, a name given
by General Picton for their gallan-
Devits Paternoster.
278
Dew-Beaters.
try in action and their irregularity
in quarters during the Peninsular
War, 1809-14.]
2. (volunteer) — The Inns of
Court Volunteers [in allusion to
the legal personnel}.
1864. MARK LEMON, Jest Book, p.
211. At a review of the volunteers, when
the half-drowned heroes were defiling by
all the best ways, the DEVIL'S OWN walked
straight through. This being reported to
Lord B , he remarked, ' that the
lawyers always went through thick and
thin. '
1872. Daily Telegraph, 28 Nov.
In Richmond Park the Inns of Court Rifle
Volunteers, more familiarly known as the
DEVIL'S OWN, were inspected by Colonel
Daubeney.
DEVIL'S-PATERNOSTER. To SAY
THE DEVIL'S PATERNOSTER,
verb. phr. (old). — To grumble.
1614. TERENCE, in English. D. What
DEVILLS PATER NOSTER is this he is say-
ing? what would he? what saist thou
honest man ?
DEVIL'S PLAYTHINGS, subs. phr.
(common). — Cards. --See DEVIL'S
BOOKS.
DEVIL'S-SHARPSHOOTERS, subs.
(American). — Clerics who took
part in the Mexican War.
DEVIL'S-SMILES, subs, (common).
— April weather with alternations
of sunshine and rain.
DEVIL'S-TATTOO, subs, (common).
Drumming the fingers on any re-
sonant surface, or tapping the
floor with one's feet, acts of
vacancy or impatience.
1817. SCOTT, Search after Haziness,
st. xv. His sugar-loaves and bales about
he threw, And on his counter beat the
DEVIL'S TATTOO.
1837. R. H. BARHAM, Ingoldsby
Legends (ed. 1862), p. 181. Her tears had
ceased ; but her eyes were cast down, and
mournfully fixed upon her delicate little
foot, which was beating the DEVIL'S
TATTOO.
1841. LYTTON, Night and Morning,
bk. III., ch. vi. Mr. Gawtrey remained
by the fire beating the DEVIL'S TATTOO
upon the chimney-piece.
1855. THACKERAY, The Ne^vcomes,
II., 130. Lady Kew (log.)'. 'Have you
been quarrelling as much as usual ? ' ' Pretty
much as usual,' says Barnes, drumming on
his hat. ' Don't beat that DEVIL'S TATTOO.'
DEVIL'S TEETH, — See DEVIL'S
BONES.
[Also to note in this connexion are
DEVIL'S OWN BOY = a young blackguard ;
IMP OF THE DEVI L= /<&;«; DEVIL'S OWN
SHIP = a pirate ; DEVIL'S OWN LUCK = un-
common, or inexplicable, good fortune ;
TO LEAD ONE THE DEVIL'S OWN DANCE =
to baffle one in the pursuit of any object ;
THE DEVIL A BIT SAYS PUNCH = a jocular
yet decided negative ; and NEAT BUT NOT
GAUDY, AS THE DEVIL SAID WHEN HE
PAINTED HIS BOTTOM PINK AND TIED UP
HIS TAIL WITH PEA GREEN, a locution
employed of aged ladies dressed in flaming
colours.]
DEVILTRY, subs. (low). — A vulgar
form of ' devilry. '
DEVOR, subs. (Charterhouse).—
Plum Cake. [From the Latin.]
DEVOTIONAL-HABITS, subs, (stable).
— Said of a horse that is apt to
'say his prayers,' i.e.y to stumble
and go on his knees.
DEW -BEATERS, -DUSTERS, or
-TREADERS, subs. (old). - i.
Pedestrians out early in the morn-
ing, i.e., before the dew is off
the ground.
1692. HACKET, Life of Williams, i. ,
57. It is not equity at lust and pleasure
that is moved for, but equity according to
decrees and precedents foregoing, as the
DEW-BEATERS have trod their way for
those that come after them.
2. (common). — The feet. [An
extension of sense I.] For syno-
nyms, see CREEPERS.
Dew-Bit.
279
Dial.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
1823. SCOTT, Peveril, ch. xxxvi.
First hold out your DEW-BEATERS till I
take off the darbies. Is that usual ? said
Peveril, stretching out his feet.
3. (tramps').— Shoes. [Cf.t
senses I and 2.] In Norfolk,
heavy shoes for wet weather. —
Forby.
DEW- BIT, subs. (common). — A
snack before breakfast. Cf.,
DEW-DRINK and DEW-BEATERS.
DEW-DRINK, sttbs. (common). —
A drink before breakfast. Cf.,
DEW-BIT and DEW-BEATERS.
Fr., itne goutte pour tuer le ver,
i.e., 'to drown the maggot,' or
'to crinkle the worm.' Not, of
course, the 'early worm of the
proverb, but his spiritual cousin,
the worm that never dies.
DEWITT, verb (old). — To lynch.
[The two De Witts, opponents
of William of Orange, were
massacred by the mob in 1672,
without subsequent enquiry.] Cf.,
BOYCOTT, BURKE, CELLIER.
1690. Modest Enquiry into the Present
Disasters (Life of Ken, p. 561). It is a
wonder the English Nation . . . have not
in their fury DE-WITTED some of these men
who have brought all this upon us. And I
must tell them that the crimes of the two
unhappy brothers in Holland (which gave
rise to that word) were not fully so great
as some of theirs.
b. 1664, d. 1721. PRIOR, The Viceroy.
To her I leave thee, gloomy peer, Think
on thy crimes committed ; Repent, and be
for once sincere, Thou ne'er wilt be
DE-WITTED.
1849-1861. MACAULAY, Hist, of Eng-
land. One writer . . . expressed his
wonder that the people had not . . . DE-
WITTED the nonjuring prelates.
DEWSE-A-VYLE. — The country. —
See DAISYVILLE. Cf., ROM-VILE
= London.
1567. HARM AN, Caveat, etc., s.v.
1609. DEKKER. Lanthome and Candle-
light, in wks. (Grosart), iii., 200, s.v.
1(510. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all, p.
38. (H. Club's Repr., 1874), s.v. 1714.
Memoirs of John Hall(^\\. ed.), p. 12, s.v.
DEWSKITCH, subs, (tramps').— A
thrashing. For synonyms, sec
TANNING.
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. i., p. 244. It means a
DEWSKITCH (a good thrashing).
Di AL or DIAL- PL ATE, stibs. (common).
— The face. To TURN THE
HANDS ON THE DIAL = tO dis-
figurt: the face.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. — Fron-
tispiece ; gills (the jaws) ; chump
(also the head) ; phiz ; physog ;
mug; jib; chivy, or chevy; roach
and dace (rhyming) ; signboard ;
door-plate ; front-window.
FRL. CH SYNONYMS. — La
binette (familiar : quelle sale binette
= what an ugly mug) ; un abces
(pop. = ( a. red or bloated face');
la fertille (thieves' : also straw) ;
la fiole (fam. = phial) ; la bobine
(pop : from O. F. bobe =
grimace) ; une balle d'antour
(prostitutes' : a handsome face) ;
une balle (pop. : also = a franc
piece and head) ; tine giutouse
(thieves') ; tine gargotiille, gar-
gouine, or garble (popular) ; une
gargarousse (thieves ' ) ; une gar-
gagoitche (thieves') ; une frime
(thieves' : une frime a la manque
= ugly face).
GERMAN SYNONYMS. — Bonum
or Bun em (Hanoverian : from
Heb. /<?;«w = face) ; Ponim (see
preceding) ; Rauner (also = the
eye ; im Ratiner halten = to keep
an eye upon one).
ITALIAN SYNONYMS.— Berlo ;
baleffo (literally, a gash or scar :
primarily =the mouth).
Dials.
280
Dick.
SPANISH SYNONYMS. — El
mundo (also — the world) ; el gem e
(a woman's face. Properly, the
space between the extended ends
of thumb, and forefinger).
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
1889. Bird o' Freedom, 7 Aug., p. 3.
An absinthe tumbler which caught him a
nasty crack across the DIAL finally con-
vinced hi;n that discretion was the better
part of valour.
1890. Polytechnic Magazine, 21
March. ' Boxing Brutalities.' Now if
there ,is a rule that no competitor may
strike another with a force greater than a
fixed number of pounds, it will be easy to
disqualify a man whose opponent's DIAL
shows a greater amount of punishment.
DIALS, subs, (prison). — Convicts
and thieves hailing from Seven
Dials.
DIAMOND-CRACKING, subs. (Aus-
tralian thieves'). — I. Stonebreak-
ing.
1885. Australian Printers Keep-
sake. He caught a month, and had to
white it out at DIAMOND-CRACKING in
Castieu's Hotel [Melbourne Gaol].
2. (English miners'). — Work-
ing in a coal mine. Cf., BLACK
DIAMONDS.
DIBBLE, subs, (common). — The
penis. For synonyms, see CREAM-
STICK.
DIBS or DIBBS, subs, (common). —
Generic for money. [Said to be
a corruption of diobs^ i.e.) diobolus,
a classic coin = 2^d. Another
derivation is from the huckle-
bones of sheep, popularly DIBBS,
used for gambling; Scots 'chuc-
kies.'j For synonyms, see ACTUAL
and GILT. To BRUSH WITH THE
DIBS = to abscond with the cash ;
TO TIP OVER THE DIBS = to pay
down or ' shell out ' ; To FLASH
THE DIBS = to show money, etc.
1837. BARHAM, /. L. {Dead Drum-
mer). One of their drummers, and one
Sergeant Matcham, Had BRUSH'D WITH
THE DIBS, and they never could catch 'em.
1842. Comic Almanack, p. 313. Go-
vernor,— Science can't be purchased with-
out DIBBS. When we want subjects we
must shell out.
1862. Penny Newspaper. The other
informed him that if he did not TIP OVER
THE DIBS he would blow his brains
out.
1880. Punch's Almanack, p. 7. Time
to think about my outing. No DIBS yet,
though, so it's no use shouting.
1887. W. E. HENLEY, Villon s Straight
Tip. The merry little DIBBS you'll bag.
DICE. To BOX THE DICE, verb.
phr. (legal). — To carry a point
by tricking or swindling.
DICK, subs, (common). — I. A
dictionary; a RICHARD (q.v.} ;
also, by implication, fine language
or long words. — See SWALLOW
THE DICK.
I860. HALIBURTON ('Sam. Slick'),
The Season Ticket, No. xii. Ah, now you
are talking ' Die.,' exclaimed Peabody, and
I can't follow you. When I talk You
use the -vulgar tongue, retorted the Senator.
2. (coachman's). — A riding
whip.
3. (military). — The penis.
For synonyms, see CREAMSTICK.
4. (common). — An affidavit.
1861. BUTTON COOK, Paul Foster's
Daughter, ch. xxvi. No. I'd take my
dying DICK he hasn't got a writ in his
pocket, or he couldn't move along so easy
as that.
5. 'American). — An Irish
Catholic.— See CRAWTHUMPER.
Verb (thieves'). —To look ; to
PIPE (q.v.} ; e.g., the bulky's
DICKING = the policeman is
watching you. [From the gypsy
dikk.~\ Fr., gaffer. For syno-
nyms, see PIPE.
Dickens.
281
Dickey.
DICK IN THE GREEN, phr.
(thieves'). — Weak; inferior. Cf.,
DICKY.
1812. VAUX, Memoirs, s.v.
IN THE REIGN OF QUEEN
DICK, adv. , phr. (common). —
Never ; ' when two Sundays come
in a week.' For synonyms, see
GREEK KALENDS.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicutn, s.v.
1864. Standard, 13 Dec., Rev. of SI.
Dicy. Moreover . . a few days since, a
'bus driver in altercation with his conduc-
tor, who threatened him with paying off
soon, replied, ' Oh yes, IN THE REIGN OF
QUEEN DICK,' which, on inquiry we found
to be synonymous with ' Never,' or ' Tib's
eve.'
TO SWALLOW THE DlCK, Vtrb.
phr. (common). — To use long
words without knowledge of their
meaning ; TO HIGH FALUTE
(American).
UP TO DICK, adv. phr.
(common). — Not to be 'taken in' ;
'artful' ; ' fly ' ; wide-awake. For
synonyms, see DOWNY. Also =
up to the mark, i.e., perfectly
satisfactory.
1877. J. GREENWOOD, Under the
Blue Blanket. 'Ain't that UP TO DICK,
my biffin ? ' 'I never said it warn't.'
1887. Wal/ora's Antiquarian, April,
p. 251. Betwixt you and me I think
Sm'll agree That of course I look ' UP TO
ICK.'
DICKENS, subs. (old). — The DEVIL
(q.v.} or DEUCE (q.v.} ; used
interchangeably. [A corruption
of NICK (q.v.).'} For synonyms,
see SKIPPER.
1596. SHAKSPEARE, Merry Wives of
Windsor, Act III., Sc. ii. I cannot tell
what the DICKENS his name is.
1653. UROUHART, Rabelais, bk. I.,
prol. (Bohn), vol. I., p. 99. But hearken,
joltheads, you vie-dayes, or DICKENS take
ye.
1727. JOHN GAY, Beggars Opera,
Act I. Sc. i. Peach. What a DICKENS is
the woman always whimpering about
murder for ! No gentleman is ever looked
upon the worse for killing a man in his
own defence.
1754. FOOTE, Knights, Act II.
Mally Pengrouse ! Who the DICKENS is
she?
1824. R. B. PEAKE, Americans
Abroad, i., 1. Oh ! the DICKENS — I'm
stunded.
1880. G. R. SIMS, Zeph. ch. xv.
' Inez is fretting after Pedro,' he said to
himself, ' but what the DICKENS is Totty
blubbering about?'
1889. C. H ADDON CHAMBERS, Ne'er-
do-Well, 'In Australian Wilds.' What
the DICKENS could I do ? I believe I swore
a little at first, and then I flourished my
whip.
DICKER, subs, and verb : also
DICKERING, subs. (American). —
Barter ; SWAP (q.v.) : generally
applied to trade in small articles.
1830. COBBETT, in Rural Rides, I.,
199 (1886). It is barter, truck, change,
DICKER, as the Yankees call it, but, as our
horse-jockeys call it, swap, or chop.
1831-90. WHITTIER, Poems. For
peddling DICKER, not for honest sales.
1888. New York Weekly Times, 28
March. He had perhaps been considering
the advisability of making a DICKER with
his old political opponents in the hope of
bettering his condition.
1888. Denver Republican, 7 April.
After some DICKERING a style of coffin
was selected and a price decided upon.
DICKEY, subs. (old). — i. A woman's
under petticoat.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
2. (common). — A donkey.
b. 1766, d. 1823. BLOOMFIELD,
Richard and Kate. But now, as at some
nobler places Amongst the leaders 'twas
decreed Time to begin the DICKY races,
More famed for laughter than for speed.
1841. JOHN MILLS, Old Eng. Gentle-
man, ch. vii., p. 60 (3rd ed.). A young
DICKEY, in the full kick of youth, mistook
some sweet briar for a thistle.
3. (common). — A sham shirt
front, formerly a worn-out shirt.
Dickey.
282
Dickey-bird.
Cf., sense 4. [Hotten : originally
TOMMY (from "the Greek, ropr],
a section), a word once used
in Trinity College, Dublin.]
Also, by implication, any sham
contrivance ; see quots.
1781. G. PARKER, View of Society,
I., 82, note. DICKEY : cant for a worn-
out shirt.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v. A
sham shirt.
1835-40. HALIBURTON, Clockmaker,
2 S., ch. ix. She made frill, shirt-collar,
and DICKY fly like snow.
1836. WILLIS GAYFORD CLARKE, The
Olio. Podriana Papers. For a handkerchief
I had flourished a common DICKEY, the
strings whereof fell to my feet.
1848. THACKERAY, Book of Snobs,
ch. xx. Those wretched Beaux Tibbs's of
society, who sport a lace DICKEY, and no-
thing besides.
1857. HOOD, Pen and Pencil Pic-
tures^ p. 206. Do not take off that article
of apparel which Fanny Fern distinguishes
by a name which, on this side the Atlantic,
is the familiar for a YOUTHFUL RICHARD.
Spare it, we say . . . although it may be
(and we guess, from the absence of cuffs
and sleeves, it is) an imitation, a sham, a
make-shift !
1872. Public Opinion, 24 ^Feb.,
p. 241. 'Inside Newgate.' What is she
here for? I asked, pointing to a florid-
looking girl who was taking a deep
professional interest in ironing a DICKEY.
1876. JAS. GREENWOOD, Low Life
Deeps. ' I saw a laden waggon bearing
the name of one of the cheap advertising
firms you speak of.' . , . ' Ah, bearing the
name . . . you saw a waggon wearing a
DICKY, you mean — a false front-plate with
a name on it which slips on and off like
them on the wans that the pianoforte-
makers borrow. '
1883. JAS. GREENWOOD, 'Veteran
of Vauxhall,' in Odd People in Odd Places,
p. 38. Besides these articles there was a
pair of what had once been white linen
cuffs, a DICKEY of the same dubious
complexion, and a white tie.
4. (American : New England).
—A shirt collar. De Vere. Cf.,
sense 3.
5. (nautical). — A ship's officer
or mate ; generally, SECOND
DICKEY, i.e., second mate.
6. (London). — A swell,
synonyms, see DANDY.
For
7. (schoolboys'). — The penis.
Adj. (common). — I. Sorry ;
inferior; paltry and poor in quality.
DICKEY DOMUS (theatrical) = a
poor 'house.'
2. (London). — Smart. A
corruption of UP TO DICK (q.v.).
Cf., subs., sense 6.
ALL DICKEY WITH [ONE], adv.
phr. (common). — Queer; gone
wrong ; ' all up with. '
1811. POOLE, Hamlet Travestied,
III., vi. O, Hamlet ! 'tis ALL DICKEY
WITH us both You've done my business by
a blow, 'tis true ; But I — Oh ! I — have
done the same for you.
1819. MOORE, Tom Crib's Memorial,
p. 21. 'Twas ALL DICKY WITH Georgy,
his mug hung so dead.
1837. THACKERAY, in Frasers
Magazine, 10 Oct. Sam, the stable boy
[who from living chiefly among the hosses
and things has got a sad low way of talk-
ing], said it was ALL DICKY, and bid us
drive on to the nex' page.
1837. BARHAM, /. L. (Brothers of
Birchington). Here a monk, whose teeth
funk and concern made to chatter, Sobs
put as he points to the corpse on the floor,
'Tis ALL DICKEY WITH poor Father Dick
— he's no more '
1882. Daily Telegraph, 3 Oct., p. 2,
col. 2. I was coolly told that ' anyhow, all
the actual meat there was in, say half a
pound of cheap German sausage, couldn't
do any one much harm if it was ever so
DICKY.'
DICKEY-BIRD, subs, (common). — i.
A louse. For synonyms, see
CHATES.
2. pi. (theatrical) — Professional
singers of all grades.
3. (venery). — A prostitute;
generally NAUGHTY DICKY-BIRD.
For synonyms, see BARRACK-HACK
and TART.
c. 1830. Broadside Ballad, GEORGE
BARN WELL. When he had put the shutters
Dickey -Diaper.
283
Didoes.
up He went to see his DICKEY-BIRD, And
when he came back next morning, Blowed
if he could speak a word.
DICKEY-DIAPER, subs. (old). — A
linendraper.
DICKEY-DIDO, subs, (popular). — An
idiot. For synonyms, see BUFFLE
and CABBAGE-HEAD.
DICKEY-LAGGER, subs, (common). —
A bird catcher. [From DICKEY,
a pet name for a bird + LAGGER,
one who lays hold of.]
1881. W. BLACK, Beautiful Wretch,
ch. xviii. 'They're starved out in this
weather, Miss ; and then the boys come out
wi' their guns ; and the DICKY-LAGGERS
are after them too.' 'The what?1 'The
bird-catchers, Miss.'
DICKEY-SAM, subs. phr. (common).
— A native of Liverpool.
1870. Atheneeum, 10 Sept. We can-
not even guess why a Liverpool man is
called a DICKEY SAM.
1884. Book Lore, Dec., p. 27. The
natives of Liverpool call themselves, or are
called by others, DICKY SAMS.
DICKY, sttbs. (Scots'). — I. Thepems.
For synonyms, see CREAMSTICK.
2. See DICK in all senses.
DIDDIES, subs, (common). — The
paps. For synonyms, see DAIRY.
DIDDLE, stibs. (old). — I. Gin. For
synonyms, see DRINKS. In
America, liquor generally.
1858. H. MAYHEW, Paved-with Gold,
bk. iii., ch. i, p. 252. And there's a first-
rate ' DIDDLE cove ' (publican) keeps a gin-
shop there.
2. (schoolboys'). — The penis.
For synonyms, see CREAMSTICK.
3. (common). — A swindle or
'do.' — See verb, sense I.
1885. Punch, 5 Sept., p. no. And
something whispered me— in diction chaste
— It's all a DIDDLE!
Verb (common). — I. To cheat.
For synonyms, see STICK.
1811. POOLE, Hamlet Travestied.
1819. MOORE, Tom Crib's Memorial,
i. DIDDLING your subjects, and gutting
ftuxtfeta,
1825. SCOTT, St. Ronan's Well,
ch. v. And Jack is DIDDLED, said the
Baronet.
1841. Comic Almanack, p. 266.
Thus, while pig and tail the villagers
DIDDLE, My tale's in the middle, my tale's
in the middle !
1880. HAWLEY SMART, Social Sin-
ners, ch. xv. He had me, and no mistake.
Done, yes, DIDDLED; and I thought I had
rather an easy-going lawyer to deal with.
1887. Lie. Viet. Gazette, 2 Dec ,
362, i. You have been done, regularly
DIDDLED, by that fellow.
2. (venery). — To copulate. Cf.t
DIDDLE, subs., sense 2. For
synonyms, see RIDE.
3. (Scots' colloquial). — To
shake.
DlDDLE-CoVE, subs. (American).—
A landlord. Cf.t DIDDLER.
1859. MATSELL, Rogues Lexicon,
DIDDLER, subs, (common). — A
cheat ; a dodger. [From DIDDLE
(q.v.) + ER.] For synonyms,
seeRooK.— See JEREMY DIDDLER
(KENNY'S Raising the Wind}.
Also a chronic borrower. DID-
DLING = cheating ; also borrow-
ing.
DIDDLY-POUT, subs, (venery). — The
feua&ttudendum. For synonyms,
see MONOSYLLABLE.
DIDOES, subs. (American). — Pranks;
tricks ; fantastic proceedings. —
See CuTDiDOES,and CUTCAPERS.
Die.
284
Dig.
1835. HALIBURTON, Clockmaktr. i S.,
ch, xvii. I met a man this mornin" . . .
frum Halifax, a real conceited lookin'
critter as you e'enamost ever seed, all
shines and DIDOES.
1851. New York Tribune, 10 April,
Had the Free States been manly enough,
true enough, to enact the Wilmot Proviso
as to all present or future territories of the
Union, we should have had just the same
DIDOES CUT UP by the chivalry that we
have witnessed, and with no more damage
to the Union.
Di E or D £E,sul>s. (American thieves').
—A pocket-book. MATSELL'S
Vocabulum [ 1859]. For synonyms,
see LEATHER.
DIE-BY-THE - HEDGE, subs. phr.
(provincial). — The flesh of animals
' deceased by accident or of
disease; by implication, inferior
meat.
DIE-HARDS, subs, (military). — The
Fifty- Seventh Foot. [From the
rallying call at Albuera (181 1) its
Colonel (Inglis) calling to the men,
'Diehard, my men, die hard,' when
it had thirty bullets through the
King's Colour, and only had one
officer out of twenty-four, and one
hundred and sixty-eight men out
of five hundred and eighty-four,
when left standing.]
DIE IN ONE'S BOOTS or SHOES,
verb. phr. (old). — I. To be hanged.
For synonyms, see LADDER.
1653. URQUHART, Rabelais.
1837. R. H. B ARM AM, Ingoldsby
Legends. ' The Execution ' (ed. 1862),
p. 196. And there is McFuze And
Lieutenant Tregooze, And there is Sir
Carnaby Jenks of the Blues All come to
see a man DIE IN HIS SHOES.
• 1888. Denver Republican, 9 April.
When in liquor he was quarrelsome and
the prediction was commonly made that
he would DIE WITH HIS BOOTS ON.
2. (American). --To 'die stand-
ing': at work, 'in harness,' in
full possession of one's faculties.
1887. Scribners Magazine. These
stiff prairie plants sever wilt- they DIE IN
THEIR BOOTS.
1888. Cincinnatti Enquirer, Title :
DIED WITH HIS BOOTS ON. The killing of
the notorious Desperado Leo Renfro.
DIE WITH ONE'S EARS STUFFED
WITH COTTON. — See COTTON.
DlG,stibs. (colloquial). — I. A blow,
thrust, punch, or poke ; in pugil-
ism = a ' straight left-hander '
delivered under the guard on the
'mark.'
1819. MOORE, Tom Crib's Memorial,
p. 51. While ribbers rung from each re-
sounding frame, and divers DIGS, and many
a ponderous /£//.
1876. C. W. WALL, trans. Molierc,
vol. i., p. 80. The DIGS in the ribs I gave
you with such hearty good will.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. — Auc-
tioneer ; biff; bang ; buck-horse ;
buster; chatterer; chin-chopper;
chopper; clip; click; clinker; clout;
cock ; cork ; comber ; cuff ; cant ;
corker ; dab ; downer ; douser ;
ding ; domino ; floorer ; ferrica-
douzer ; fibbing; facer ; flush-hit;
finisher ; gooser ; hot 'un ; jaw-
breaker ; lick ; mendoza; muzzier;
noser; nobbier; nose-ender ; nope ;
oner ; punch ; stock-dollager ;
stotor ; spank ; topper ; twister ;
whack ; wipe.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. — Un
coup oTencensoir (popular : a tap
on the nose ; ' one on the
smeller ' ) ; tin cotip de tampon
(pop. : tampon — buffer) ; un
coup de Garibaldi (thieves' :
a butt in the stomach) ; 101
moule de gant (popular : ' a mould
for a glove ') ; line mornifle (col-
loquial : 'a wipe in the jaw') ;
Dig.
28 q
Diggings.
une mandole (popular) ; tine gnole
(popular : from torgnole] ; un coup
de gilquin (popular) ; un cata-
plasme de Venise (popular) ; un
gnon (popular) ; une dariole
(pop. : also, a cream -cake) ; une
beugne (popular) ; une dandine
(popular : ' a twister ' ) ; une baffre
( popular) ; des castagnettes
(military: punches); une ch&taigne
(popular) ; unecouleur (popular) ;
une bottjfe (popular : &w^& = gust
or blast) ; un cabochon (popular) ;
un estaffion (popular) ; une eslaphe
(popular) ; une accolade ; une balle
de coton (thieves').— See also TAN,
verb.
GERMAN SYNONYM. Azkes
malaikes ( Viennese thieves' : = a
blow with the fist on the throat.
The derivation may be : azke
from Ileb. osak, to quarrel +
malaikes from Heb. melocho,
work).
SPANISH SYNONYMS. — Duros
(whip-strokes; also = harsh, merci-
less) ; tapaboca (a ' corker ' : also
any action or observation which
cuts one short) ; pasagonzalo (a
quick hit) ; capon (generally
colloquial) ; chamorrada (a butt
with the head) ; mojada (a stab) ;
zttmbido or zumbo (literally, a
humming or buzzing) ; tantarantin
(a thwack ; also = beat of a
drum) ; tarja (also = a target).
ITALIAN SYNONYM. Ramen-
ghi d'alta foia (blows with a
stick).
2. (American). — A diligent
student. [By implication from
the verb (q.v.) ; also study ; e.g.,
To have a DIG at Caesar or Livy.
Verb (American) — To work
hard ; especially to study.
1876. Miss ALCOTT, Little Wives,
ch, jx. He . . . turned studious, and gave
out that he was going to DIG, intending to
graduate in a blaze of glory.
DIG A DAY UNDER THE SKIN,
verb. phr. (common). — To make
a shave serve for two days.
TO DIG UP THE HATCHET. —
See BURY.
DIGESTER. — See PATENT DI-
GESTER.
DIGGED. — See JIGGED.
DIGGERS, subs, (common). — i.
Spurs; 'persuaders.'
1789. GEO. PARKER, Life s Painter,
P- i?3i s.v.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
2. (cards'). — The spades suit ;
alsoDiGGUMS. BiGDiGGER = ace
of spades.
3. (vulgar). — The finger nails.
1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.
1881. New York Slang Diet. 'On
the Trail.' 'If you do,' returned Bill, 'I
will fix my DIGGERS in your dial-plate and
turn it up with red.
DIGGERS' -DELIGHT, subs. (New
Zealand). — A wide-brimmed felt
hat. For synonyms, see GOL-
GOTHA.
DIGGINGS, subs, (common). — A
place of residence or employ-
ment. [First used at the West-
ern lead mines in the U.S.A.
to denote whence ore was dug.]
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. — Birk ;
box ; case ; crib ; chat ; den ; dry-
lodgings ; drum ; place ; pig-sty ;
pew ; cabin ; castle ; chaffing-
crib; caboose; sky-parlour; shop;
ken; dossing-ken ; hole ; rook,
ery ; hutch ; hang-out.
Diggums.
Dilly-bag.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. — Une
bagnole (pop . : from bagne = hulks) ;
un bazar (military : also, a
brothel); tin bocal (pop. : also =
stomach); une baraque (common :
in disparagement) ; une baite
(thieves') ; une case (thieves') ; une
carrce (thieves') ; une cambriole
(thieves') ; une cambuse (popular) ;
une condition (thieves') ; un creux
(thieves') ; une piole or piolle
(thieves').
GERMAN SYNONYM. — Bes,
Beth, or Bajis.
ITALIAN SYNONYMS. — Bac-
chia ; clocchia or cloccia (also = a
bell) ; coschetto delle Fantasime.
SPANISH SYNONYMS. —
Caverna ( ' a cavern ';<:/"., English
DEN); aduana (also = a brothel,
and thieves' resort) ; nido (' a
nest ' ; nido de ladrones, a ' cross-
drum ' ; a thieves' resort) ; tercha
('a perch').
1838. J. C. NEAL, Charcoal Sketches,
II., 119. Look here, Ned, I reckon it's
about time we should go to our DIGGINGS ;
I am dead beat.
1871. DE VERB, Americanisms, p.
171. The miner in California and Nevada
has been known, in times of a rush, to
speak of a place where he could stand
leaning against a stout post, as his
DIGGINGS for the night.
1883. Referee, i July, p. 3, col. 2.
Mr. and Mrs. Bancroft are changing their
DIGGINGS, and clearing out of Cavendish-
square.
1884. W. C. RUSSELL, Jack's Court-
ship, ch. viii. Oh, he lives round the
corner. You may see his DIGGINGS from
your daughter's bedroom window, sir.
1888. C. J. DUNPHIE, The
Chameleon, p. 86. ' DIGGINGS ' I call my
dwelling, according to the prevalent slang.
DIGGUMS, subs, (provincial). — i. A
gardener.
2. (gamesters'). — The suit of
spades ; also DIGGERS (q.v. ).
DILBERRIES, subs, (common). —
Faecal and seminal deposits in
the hair of the anus and the
female pudendum ; CLINKERS.
DILBERRY-BUSH, subs, (common).
— The hair about the female
pudendum or the amis. — See BIL-
BERRIES.
OIL DO, subs. (old). — An instrument
(of wax, horn, leather, india-
rubber, gutta-percha, etc., and
other soft material), shaped
like, and used by women as a
substitute for, the penis. Now
called a BROOM - HANDLE or
BROOMSTICK, the pudendum in
this connection = BROOM (y.v.).
[BAILEY: from It., diletto, a
woman's delight or from DALLY
= to toy.] In Lombardy, passo
tempo.
c. 1672. BUTLER, Dildoides (Occasioned
by Burning a hogshead of DILDOES at
Stocks Market).
1886. BURTON, The Thousand Nights
and a Night, vol. x, p. 239. Of the /<?«/.$•
succedaneus, that imitation of the A rbor-
vittf, or Sotor-Kosmou, which the Latins
called phallus and fascinitin, the French
godemiche, and the \\.a.\ia.nspassatempoa.\-\<\
diletto (whence our DILDO), every kind
abounds, varying from a stuffed ' French
Letter ' to a cone of ribbed horn, which
looks like an instrument of torture.
Verb (old).— To wanton with a
woman. Cf.t su&s., sense. For
synonyms, see FIRKYTOODLE.
DlLLY, subs, (common). — A night
cart ; formerly a coach. [From
Fr., diligence.'}
17(?). The Anti-Jacobin. So down
thy hill, romantic Ashbourne glides, The
Derby DILLY having four inside.
1833. MARRYAT, Peter Simple, ch.
ix. One which they called a DILLY.
DILLY-BAG, subs. (Australian). — A
wallet ; or scran-bag.
1880. A. C. GRANT. Their own
DILLV-BAGS have nothing of value or
interest in them.
Dilly-dally.
287
Dine.
DILLY-DALLY, verb (colloquial). —
To loiter ; hesitate ; trifle. [A
duplication of DALLY.]
1740. RICHARDSON, Pamela, i., 275.
What you do, sir, do ; don't stand DILLY-
DALLYING.
1750. FIELDING, Tom Jones, bk.
XVIII., ch. xii. But if I had suffered her
to stand shill I shall I, DILLY DALLY, you
might not have had that honour yet awhile.
1869. W. S. GILBERT, The Bohemian
Girl. When at a pinch you should never
DILLY-DALLY.
DIMBER, adj. (old). — Pretty, neat,
lively. Variants are SCRUMPTIOUS;
NATTY. Fr., batif(\.\i\e.vQ^);Jignole
(thieves') ; girofle (thieves').
1671. R. HEAD, English Rogue, pt. I.,
ch. v., p. 48 (1874), s.v.
1706. E. COLES, Eng. Diet., s.v.
DIMBER CovE=a sprightly
man, a gentleman: DIMBER MORT
= a pretty girl. Fr., une largue
girofle. Cf., DIMBER-DAMBER.
1837. DISRAELI, Venetia, book I.,
ch. xiv. 'Tis a DIMBER COVE, whispered
one of the younger men to a companion :
Ibid, Tip me the clank like a DIMBER
MORT.
DIMBER-DAMBER, subs. (old). — A
captain of thieves or vagrants.
[From DIMBER (q.v.), skilful,
etc., + DAMBER (q.v.), a chief
or head man.]
1671. R. HEAD, English Rogtte,
pt. i, ch. v., p. 48(1874).
1724. E. COLES, Eng. Diet.
]749. Life of Bampfylde-Moore
Careiv, ' Oath of the Canting Crew.' . . No
DIMBER DAMBER, angler, dancer, prig of
cackler, prig of prancer.
1834. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood,
bk. III., ch. v. No; no refusal, exclaimed
a chorus of voices. Dick Turpin must be
one of us. He shall be our DIMBER
DAMBER.
DIM MOCK, subs, (common). -Money.
For synonyms, see ACTUAL and
GILT,
1834. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood,
bk. IV., ch. i. ' I have . . . pocketed the
DIMMOCK (here 'tis," continued he, paren-
thetically slapping his pockets).
DINAHS, subs. (Stock-Exchange). —
Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
Ordinary Stock.
DiNARLYor DlNALi, stibs. (theatri-
cal).— Money. For synonyms, see
ACTUAL and GILT. NANTEE
or NANTI DiNARLY = no money.
Sp., dinero; Lingua Franca,
niente dmaro = not a penny.
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. III., p. 149. ' I have
got no money ' is, ' My nabs has nanti
DINALI ' [among strolling actors].
1870. South London Press, 8 Oct.,
Advt. So don't forget when you've the
tin To here spend your ' DINARLHY."
DlNE-OUT, verb. phr. (common).—
To go dinnerless, TO DINE WITH
DUKE HUMPHREY (q.v.). Vari-
ants : TO TAKE A SPITALFIELDS'
BREAKFAST (q.V.)t or AN IRISH-
MAN'S DINNER (q.V.), also TO GO
OUT AND COUNT THE RAILINGS
(q.v.). Fr., Se coucher bredouille
= to go to bed supperless ; aller
voir defilerles dragons = \.o go and
watch the dragoons march past ;
diner en ville = \.o dine in town,
i.e., to munch a roll in the
street or to eat nothing; lire le
journal.
1888. All the Year Round, 9 June,
p. 542. To ' dine with Duke Humphrey,
or, as it is now sometimes more shortly
phrased, to ' DINE OUT,' in both cases
meaning not to dine at all
DINEWITH DUKE HUMPHREY, verb,
phr. (old). — To go dinnerless ; to
DINE OUT (q.v.}. — [Origin un-
certain ; supposed, however, to
refer to Humphrey, Duke of
Gloucester, the youngest son of
Henry the Fourth, who, though
really buried at St. Alban's, was
reputed to have a monument in
Dine.
288
Ding.
Old St. Paul's, from which one
part of the church was termed
Duke Humphrey's Walk. Old
Paul's was a regular promenade,
especially for lackeys out of livery,
and ruffians and sea-captains out
of luck. Thus Falstaff explains
of Bardolph that he ' got him in
Paul's,' while Jonson actually lays
the scene of Every Man Out of His
Humour (1599), in 'The Middle
Aisle of St. Paul's,' to introduce
his cavaliero Shift. Shift and
Bardolph, in fact, were what is
now called ' inspectors of public
buildings ' ; they walked in Paul's
on the chance of a pick -up, and they
dined by looking at the monu-
ments. The Bodleian Library
was founded by the same Duke
Humphrey, and the Gentleman^ s
Mag. (1794, p. 529) records that
when a student stayed on during
the dinner hour, at which time it
used to be closed, he was said to
DINE WITH DUKE HUMPHREY.
An alternative traces the saying to
the report that Duke Humphrey
was starved to death. Chambers, in
his Historical Sketch of St. Giles's
Cathedral, Edinburgh, records a
similar pleasantry concerning the
tomb of the Earl of Murray,
and quotes a Scots poet, one
Sempill (i6th cent.), who makes
a hungry idler say : I dined with
saints and gentlemen, E'en sweet
St. Giles and the Earl of Murray.
See WHARTON, Hist, of Eng.
Poetry '(ed. 1824), vol. IV., p. 361.
1592. NASHE, Pierce Penilesse, in
wks., ii., 1 8. I .... retired me to
Paules, to seeke my dinner WITH DUKE
HUMFREY.
1592. GAB. HARVEY, Four Letters.
To seek his dinner in Poules WITH DUKE
HUMPHREY.
1608. The Penniless Parliament of
Threadbare Poets. And if I prove not
that a mince-pie is the better weapon, let
meoiNEtwiceaweek ATDuKEHuMPHRY's
TABLE,
1664. H. PEACHAM, Worth of a
Penny ; in Arber's Garner, vol. VI., p. 273.
Who, having been troubled with over
much money, afterward, in no long time,
have been fain, after ' A LONG DINNER
WITH DUKE HUMPHREY,' to take a nap on
' penniless bench,' only to verify the old
proverb, ' A fool and his money is soon
parted.'
1748. SMOLLETT, Rod. Random,
ch. Iv. My mistress and her mother must
have DINED WITH DUKE HUMPHREY, had
I not exerted myself in their behalf.
1884. Daily Telegraph, 22 Jan., p.
5, col. 3. In future, not even the most
impecunious of diners-out must accept an
invitation from DUKE HUMPHREY.
DING, verb (Old Cant, in some
senses). — Used as a colloquialism
(as in Scott) it signifies to
knock, to strike down, to pound
or (as in quot., 1786) to give
way : while in slang it means
to get rid of; to pass to a con-
federate ; ' to steal by a single
effort.' To DING A CASTOR = to
snatch a hnt and run with it : the
booty being DINGED if it has to
be thrown away. GOING UPON
THE DING = to go on the prowl.
DING THE TOT ! = Run away
with the lot !
c. 1340. HAMPOLE, Pricke of Con-
science, 7015 (ed. Morris). Right swa pe
devels salle ay DYNG, on pe synfulle, with-
outen styntyng.
1600. Sir John Oldcastle, Act III.,
Sc. ii. For the credit of Dunstable, DING
down the money to-morrow.
1610. JONSON, Alchemist, V., Hi.
Sur. [without]. Down with the door.
Kas. [without], 'Slight, DING it open.
1773. O. GOLDSMITH, She Stoops to
Conquer, Act II. If I'm to have any good,
let it come of itself; not to keep DINGING
it, DINGING it into one so.
1786. BURNS, A Dream. But facts
are chiels that winna DING.
1821. PIERCE EGAN, Tom and Jerry
[ed. 1890], p. 78. Oh I took him such a
lick of his mummer, and DINGED his rattle
clean out of his hand.
b. 1793, d. 1872. DEAN RAMSEY. Our
meenister's DINGED the guts' out of twa
Bibles.
Ding-Bat.
289
Dip.
1846. DICKENS, Dombey, ch. ix., p.
74. These were succeeded by anchor and
chain-cable forges, where sledge hammers
were DINGING upon iron all day long.
DING- BAT, subs. (American). —
Money. For synonyms, see ACTUAL
and GILT.
DING-BOY, subs, (old).— A rogue;
a bully.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
DING-DONG. To GO AT IT, or TO
IT, DING-DONG, verb. phr. (collo-
quial).— To tackle with vigor, or
in right good earnest. Formerly,
helter-skelter, (GROSE, 1785).
1887. H. SMART, Saddle and Sabre,
ch. xx. For the next hundred yards it was
a DING-DONG struggle between them.
DINGE, subs. (Royal Military
Academy). — A picture or paint-
ing.
DINGED, adj. (American). — A eu-
phemism for ' darned ' = dammed.
Sometimes DING-GONED. — See
OATHS.
DINGER, subs, (old).— I. A thief
who throws away his booty to
escape detection. [From DING
(g.v.)y to throw away + ER.]
2. in//, (conjurers').-— Cups and
balls ; Fr., gobelets et muscades.
DING- FURY, subs, (provincial). —
Huff; anger.
DING-GONED. — See DINGED.
DINGLE, adj. (old). — Hackneyed ;
used up.
1786. The Microcosm, No. 3. Your
Mic is dead-lounge — dissipates insufferable
ennui of tea-table, — fills 1 oring intervals of
conversazione, ... By the by, in your
next propose some new lounge. — They are
all so DINGLE at present, they are quite a
bore.
DINING-ROOM, subs, (common).
— The mouth. For synonyms,
see POTATO-TRAP.
DINING-ROOM CHAIRS, subs,
phr. (common). — The teeth ;
also DINNER-SET (q.v.). For
synonyms, see GRINDERS.
DINING-ROOM POST, subs. phr.
(old). — Petty pilfering done from
houses by sham postmen.
DINK, adj. (Scots' colloquial). —
Dainty ; trim.
1794. BURNS, My Lady's Gown. My
lady's DINK, my lady's drest.
DINNER-SET, subs, (common). —
The teeth. ' Your DINNER-SET
wants looking to ' = you need to
go to the dentist. For synonyms,
see GRINDERS.
DIP, s^ibs. (thieves'). — I. A pick-
pocket; also DIPPER and DIPPING-
BLOKE. For synonyms, see STOOK-
HAULER.
1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, p. 26,
s.v.
1866. NWCE., The Chickaleary Cove.
Off to Paris I shall go to show a thing or
two To the DIPPING-BLOKES wot hangs
about the cafes.
1888. St. Louis Globe Democrat. A
DIP touched the Canadian sheriff for his
watch and massive chain while he was
reading the Riot Act.
2. (American). — A stolen kiss,
especially one in the dark.
3. (Westminster School). — A
pocket inkstand.
4. (colloquial). — A candle made
by dipping the wick in tallow.
19
Dipe.
290
Dirt-scraper.
1837. BARHAM, I. L. (Ingoldsby
Penance.") None of your rascally DIPS,
but sound, Best superfine wax-wicks, four
to the pound.
Verb (thieves').— I. To pick
pockets. To DIP A LOB = to rob
a till. Also TO GO ON THE DIPE =
to go pocket-picking. For syno-
nyms, see FRISK.
1817. Sporting Mag. Defence of
Groves at Bristol Assizes. I have DIPPED
into 150 . . . pockets and not found a
shilling.
2. (old). — To pawn ; mortgage.
1693. DRYDEN, Persius, vi., 160.
Put out the principal in trusty hands : Live
of the use ; and never DIP thy lands.
1711. Spectator, No. 114. What
gives the unhappy man this peevishness of
spirit is, that his estate is DIPPED, and is
eating out with usury; and yet he has
not the heart to sell any part of it.
1860. THACKERAY, Philip, ch. xiv.
You have but one son, and he has a fortune
of his own, as I happen to know. You
haven't DIPPED it, Master Philip?
3. (thieves'). — To be convicted;
to get into trouble.
To DIP ONE'S BEAK, verb. phr.
(common).— To drink. For syno-
nyms, see LUSH.
D\PE. -See DIP, verb, sense I.
1877. S. L.CLEMENS ('Mark Twain')
Life on the Mississippi, p. 460. i felt
very rough and was thinking i would have
TO GO ON THE DIPE again.
DIPPED IN WING, adv. phr. (popu-
lar).— Worsted.
DIPPER, subs, (old).— i. A baptist.
—[GROSE, 1785.]
2. See DIP, subs., sense I.
DIPPING-BLOKE. — See DIP, subs.,
sense i.
DIPS, stibs. (nautical). — I. The pur-
ser's boy.
2. (colloquial). — A grocer.
DIPSTICK, subs. (old). — A gauger.
DIRK, subs. (Scots'). — The penis.
For synonyms, see CREAMSTICK.
DIRT, subs. (American). — Money.
For synonyms, see ACTUAL arid
GILT.
To EAT DIRT, verb. phr. (collo-
quial).— To submit to insult ; TO
EAT BROILED CROW, or HUMBLE
PIE (q.v.) ; to retract.
1854. WHYTE MELVILLE, General
Bounce, ch. x. Though they bow before a
calf, is it not a golden one ? though they
' EAT DIRT,' is it not dressed by a French
cook?
1861. New York Evening Post, 4 Jan.
After EATING so much DIRT, are we asked
to swallow free soil ?
To FLING DIRT or MUD, verb,
phr. (colloquial). — To abuse ; to
vituperate.
1689. SELDEN, Table Talk, p. 104
(Arber's edj. One that writes against
his Adversary, and THROWS all the DIRT
he can in his Face.
1705. WARD, Hudibras Redhnvus,
vol. I., pt. ii., p. ii. Scurrility's a useful
trick, Approv'd by the most politick ;
FLING DIRT enough, and some will stick.
1875. OUIDA, Signa, vol. I., ch. xv.,
p. 358. A wicked old tongue that could
THROW DIRT with any man's or woman's
either.
1885. J. S. WINTER, Booties Baby,
p. 66. I suppose he wants to daub Booties
with some of his own MUD. Thinks if he
only THROWS enough some of it's sure to
stick.
To CUT DIRT. — See CUT.
DIRT-BAILLIE, subs. (Scots'). — An
inspector of nuisances.
DIRT-SCRAPER subs. (American). —
An advocate who rakes up un-
pleasant facts in a witness's past.
Dirty-Dishes.
291
Dish- Clout.
DIRTY-DISHES, subs, (common). —
Poor relations.
DIRTY HALF-HUNDRED, subs. phr.
(military). — The Fiftieth Foot.
[From the fact that, in action,
during the Peninsular War, the
men wiped their faces with their
black facings.] Also nicknamed
the BLIND HALF-HUNDRED.
1841. < LEVER, Charles O'Malley, ch.
xciv. A kind of neutral tint between green
and yellow, like nothing I know of except
the facings of the 'DIRTY HALF-HUNDRED.'
DIRTY-PUZZLE, subs. (old). — A
slut.— Grose [1785].
DIRTY SHIRT MARCH, subs. phr.
(vulgar). — On Sunday mornings
the male population of Drury
Lane, Whitechapel, and other
crowded districts loaf about the
streets, before attiring themselves
in their Sunday clothes. This
promenade is called a ' DIRTY
SHIRT MARCH.'
DIRTY-SHIRTS, subs, (military).—
The Hundred and First Foot.
[They fought in their shirt-sleeves
at Delhi in 1857.]
1887. Daily Neivs, n July. As
the old Bengal European Regiment . . . ..
. . they [the 2nd Munster Fusiliers] had
won their honourable sobriquet of the
DIRTY SHIRTS, half-a-century earlier.
DISGRUNTLED, adj. (old). — Offen-
ded: still colloquial in U.S.A.
UNDISGRUNTLED = unoffended.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vitlg. Tongue,
s.v.
1869. Springfield Republican, 20
Nov. Rev. Dr. Newman Hall, of London,
tells how when he was journeying to
Chicago, an apple-peddling boy, on the
cars, without any preliminaries took hold
of and immediately examined his breast-
pin. Nevertheless the reverend gentleman,
quite UNDISGRUNTLED, remarked, 'Was
it not there to be seen ? Was he not a man
and a brother ? '
1877. Providence Journal, i March.
We have had enough exercise of extraor-
dinary power, and this continual grasping
after authority for the purpose of meeting
the individual case of some DISGRUNTLED
persons should receive the stamp of this
committee's disapprobation.
DISGUISED, adj. (old). — Drunk.
For synonyms, see DRINKS and
SCREWED.
1622. MASSINGER, Virgin Martyr,
III., iii. Harp. I am a prince disguised.
Hir. DISGUISED ! How? Drunk!
1625. JONSON, Staple of News, IV.
Come, I will shew you the way home, if
drink Or too full diet have DISGUISED you.
1663. DRYDEN, Wild Gallant, Act I.
Fail. Will not ale serve the turn, Will ?
Bib. I had too much of that last night ; I
was a little DISGUISED, as they say.
1704. STEELE, Lying Lover, Act I'/.,
Sc. i. Sim. You are a little DISGUIS'D in
Drink tho' Mr. John.
1773. GOLDSMITH, She Stoops to
Conquer, Act IV. A damned up and
down hand, as if it was DISGUISED in
liquor.
1884. W. C. RUSSELL, Jack's Court-
ship, ch. xvi. I met a third mate I knew,
slightly DISGUISED in liquor.
DISH, verb (common). — To cheat ;
to circumvent ; to disappoint ; to
ruin.
1798. Monthly Mag. [quoted in N.
and Q., i S., iv., p. 313. In the Monthly
Mag.,m. 1798, is a paper on?peculiarities of
expression among which are . . . ' done
up,' DISH'D, etc.
1811. E. NARES, Thinks I to Myself,
i., 208. He was completely DISHED — he
could never have appeared again.
1819. MOORE, Tom Crib's Memorial,
p. 26. . . . Could old Nap himself, in his
glory, have wish'd To show up a fat
Gemman more handsomely DISH'D ?
1821. MONCRIEFF, Tom and Jerry,
i. 7. No, I'm out of spirits because I
have been DISHED and doodled out of forty
pounds to-day.
1884. W. C. RUSSELL. Jack's Court-
ship, ch. xvi. I oughtn't to show a
youngster like you any sympathy in this
job of DISHING a parent's hopes.
DISH-CLOUT, subs, (common). --A
dirty, slatternly woman.
Dished.
292
Dive.
TO MAKE A NAPKIN OF ONE'S
DISH-CLOUT, verb. phr. (old). —
To marry one's cook ; to contract
a mesalliance.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
DISHED,///, adj. (printers'). — Said
of electrotypes when the centre
of a letter is lower than its edges.
DISMAL- DITTY, subs. (old). — See
quot.
1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (sth ed.).
DISMAL DITTY . . . also a cant ex-
pression for a psalm sung by a criminal
at the gallows (s.v. Ditty).
D\SP*R,subs. (Winchester College).
— See CAT'S-HEAD.
DISPATCHES, subs. (old). — False
dice ; so contrived as always to
throw a nick. — See DOCTOR.
1811. VAUX, Memoirs, s.v.
1866. Times, 27 Nov.
DISSECTING-JOB, subs, (tailors').—
Garments requiring extensive
alteration.
DISTILLER, subs. (Australian
thieves'). — A man easily vexed,
and unable to dissemble his con-
dition.
DITTO- BLUES, subs. (Winchester
College).— A suit of clothes all of
blue cloth. Cf., DITTOES.
DITTO BROTHER, or SISTER, SMUT.
— See BROTHER SMUT.
DITTOES, subs, (colloquial). — A
complete suit of clothes of the
same material. Fr., un complet,
Occasionally applied to trousers
only.
1880. HAWLEY SMART, Social Sin-
ners, ch. x. A slight, dark man, of middle
height, clad in an ordinary suit of DITTOES,
entered the room.
1882. JAMES PAYN, Thicker than
Water, ch. ix. His attire, though quite
as faultless and more equable — he was
never seen in DITTOS even in September —
was not so splendid as of some members of
the Aglaia.
DiTTY-BAG, subs, (common). — A
handy bag, used by sailors as a
'huswife.' [From DEFT, DIGHT
= neat, active, handy.]
DIVE, subs. (American). — A drink-
ing-saloon ; also a brothel.
1888. Troy Daily Times, 7 Feb.
A plot to entrap young women for the
DIVES of Northern Wisconsin has been
discovered at Eau Claire, Wis.
1888. St. Lout's Globe Democrat,
27 Feb. Even fallen women, when the
rose is gone from their cheeks, are pushed
aside, and from a gilded house to the
lowest DIVE is the last and quickest step of
all.
Verb (old).— To pick pockets.
Cf., DIP, and for synonyms, see
P'RISK. Also DIVING = picking
pockets.
1631. BEN JONSON, Metam. Gip-
sies. Or using your nimbles [fingers], in
DIVING the pockets.
1712 GAY, Trivia, bk. III., 1., 80.
Guard well thy pocket ; for these sirens
stand To aid the labours of the DIVING
hand.
1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (sth
ed.). DIVE (v.) ._ . . and in the Canting
Language, to pick pockets in a crowd,
church, etc.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
s.v.
1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, or The
Rogue s Lexicon, s.v.
A DIVE IN THE DARK, subs.
phr. (venery).— The 'act of kind.'
To DIVE INTO ONE'S SKY,
verb. phr. (common). — To put
one's hands into one's pockets,
Diver.
Do.
TO DIVE INTO THE WOODS,
verb. phr. (American). — To con-
ceal oneself.
DIVER, or DIVE {see quot., 1608],
subs. (old). — A pickpocket (as
Jenny Diver in 'The Beggar's
Opera'); A DIP (q.v.}. For syno-
nyms, see STOOK-HAULER.
1608. DEKKER, Belman of London,
in wks. (Grosart), III., 140. [One who
steals from houses by putting a boy in
through a window to hand out to him the
plunder — is called a DIVER.]
c. 1626. Dick of Devonshire, in
Bullen's Old Plays, ii., 40. Your horse
and weapons I will take, but no pilferage.
I am no pocketeer, no DIVER into slopps.
1705. WARD, Hudibras Redivivus,
vol. I., pt. i., p. 24 [2nd ed.). So expert
DIVERS call aloud, Pray mind your
pockets, to the crowd.
1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (sth ed.,).
DIVER (s.) . . . also a cant name for a
pick-pocket.
1828. JON. BEE, Picture of London,
p. 56. Thieves frequently go well-dressed,
especially pickpockets ; good toggery being
considered a necessary qualification for
his calling, without which the DIVER could
not possibly mix in genteel company nor
approach such in the streets.
1887. BAUMANN, Londismen, V.
Smashers and DIVERS and noble contrivers.
DIVERS, subs, (common). — The
fingers. For synonyms, see FORKS.
DIVIDE THE HOUSE WITH ONE'S
WIFE, verb. phr. (old). — To turn
her out of doors.
DIVING-BELL, stibs. (common). — A
cellar-tavern. Cf., DIVE. For
synonyms, see LUSH-CRIB.
Do, subs, (colloquial). — I. A fraud.
1812. VAUX, Memoirs, s.v.
1835. DICKENS, Sketches by Boz,
p. 17. I thought it was a DO, to get me
out of the house.
1837. R. H. BARHAM. Ingoldsby
Legends, (ed. 1862.) p. 418. I should
like to see you Try to sauter le coup With
this chap at short whist or unlimited loo,
By the Pope you'd soon find it a regular
DO.
1846. Punch, vo\. XL, p. 114. What
is the meaning of the rise? I'm sure I
cannot tell — can you ? Yes, fame with hun-
dred tongues replies, 'Tis in one word
A Do I A Do !
2. (colloquial). — One's duty ;
a success ; performance what
one has to do ; once literary.
1663-78. BUTLER, Httdibras. No
sooner does he peep into the world but he
has done his DOE.
1851. H. MAYHEW, Lon. Lab. and
Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 162. Well, I heard
how a man . . . was making a fortune at
the hot-eel and pea-soup line. . . . So I
thought I'd have a touch at the same
thing. But you see I never could rise
money enough to make a DO of it.
Verb (colloquial). — I. To
cheat. For synonyms, see GAM-
MON.
1789. GEO. PARKER, Life's Painter,
p. 142. Who are continually looking out
for flats, in order to DO them upon the
broads, that is, cards.
1803. KENNEY, Raising- the Wind,
I., i. I wasn't born two hundred miles
north of Lunnun, to be DONE by Mr.
Diddler, I know.
1831. DISRAELI, The Young Duke,
bk. iv., ch. vi., p. 220 (ed. 1866;. There
was the juvenile Lord Dice, who boasted
of having DONE his brothers out of their
miserable ^5,000.
1835. DICKENS, Sketches by Boz, p.
265. I should have a much better opinion
of an individual if he'd say at once, in an
honourable and gentlemanly manner, as
he'd DONE everybody he possibly could.
1843. Co»iic Almanack, p. 373.
England expects every man to do his
duty, a strong recommendation to every
man 'to DO' the authorities who collect
the duty at the Custom-house.
1871. Public Opinion, 4 Feb. Do
you suppose that you can do the landlord
in the ' Lady of Lyons ? ' asked a theatri-
cal manager of a seedy actor in quest of
an engagement. If I can't DO him, was
the reply, he will be the first landlord I
ever had anything to do with that wasn't
DONE by me.
Do.
294
Do.
1889. Answers, g Feb. The regular
hotel thieves are constantly inventing new
dodges to DO us.
2. (pugilistic). — To 'punish.'
3. (common). — To visit a
place; e.g., 'to DO Italy,' 'to
DO the Row,' 'to DO the High'
(at Oxford), etc. Early quots.
are given ; latterly the phrase is
common enough. The Fr.,fatre
is used in the same sense ; faire
ses Acacias ; i.e., to walk or drive
in the Allee des Acacias.
1857. G. A. LAWRENCE, Guy Living-
stone, ch. xxxii. We DID Venice very
severely, with the exception of Forrester,
who . . . declined seeing anything more
than what he could view from his gondola.
1858. SHIRLEY BROOKS, The Gordian
Knot, p. 53. You have been in Egypt?
asked Margaret, with much interest. I
DID Egypt, as they say, about two years
back, [said Philip].
4. (colloquial). — To perform ;
to 'come'; e.g.t TO DO THE
POLITE = to be polite; TO DO A
BOOK = to write one ; TO DO THE
HEAVY, THE GRAND, or THE
GENTEEL = to put on airs.
1767. COLMAN, Eng. Merchant, I.,
in wks. (1777), ii- 17. I compose pam-
phlets on all subjects, compile magazines,
and DO newspapers.
1835. DICKENS, Sketches by Boz,
p. 224. He used to talk politics to papas,
flatter the vanity of mammas, DO the
amiable to their daughters.
1836. DICKENS, Pickwick, ch. xv.,
p. 125. There was the young lady who
DID the poetry in the Eatanswill Gazette,
in the garb of a sultana.
1855. THACKERAY, Newcomes, ch.
xxiv. A great number of the descriptions
in Cook's Voyages, for instance, were
notoriously invented by Dr. Hawkesworth,
who DID the book.
1856. WHYTE MELVILLE, Kate
Coventry, ch. iii. A vision of John
DOING the polite, and laughing as he
ceremoniously introduced Captain Lovell
and Miss Coventry.
1864. Glasgow Citizen, 29 Nov. Is
not the exhilarating short-length of being
known beyond our own Queen Street that
it is not registered here ? And we miss the
rag trade whose worthy members DO the
above-named goes.
1880. MILLIKEN, Punch 's Almanack.
Nobby button 'oler very well, When one
wants to DO the 'eavy swell.
5. (counterfeiters'). — To utter
base coin or QUEER (q.v.\
Do AS I DO,pht. (common). —
An invitation to drink. — See
DRINKS.
TO DO A BEER, or A BITTER,
or A DRINK, or A DROP, verb,
phr. (common), — To take a
drink.
1853. BRADLEY ('Cuthbert Bede'),
Verdant Gteen, ch. x. To DO BITTERS,
as Mr. Bouncer phrased the act of drinking
bitter beer.
1880. MILLIKEN, Punch's Almanack.
Got the doldrums dreadful, that is clear,
Two d left !— must go and DO A BEER.
To DO A BILK. —See BILK.
To DO A BILL, verb. phr.
(commercial ). — To utter an accept-
ance or bill of exchange. Cf.t
TO FLY PAPER or KITES.
1837. R. H. BARHAM, Ingoldsby
Legends [ed. 1862], p. 257. Now, then,
old sinner, let's hear what you'll say As to
DOING A BILL at three months from to-day.
1849. THACKERAY, Pendennis, ch.
Ixii. Sir Francis Clavering . . . had
managed to sign his respectable name to a
piece of stamped paper, which . . -.Mr.
Moss ABRAMS had carried off, promising
to have the BILL DONE by a party with
whose intimacy Mr. Abrams was favoured.
To DO A BISHOP, verb. phr.
(military). — To parade at short
notice.
To DO A BIT, vtrb. phr.
(common). —To eat something.
Cf.t TO DO A BEER. Also
(venery), to have a woman.
TO DO A BUNK or SHIFT,
vetb. phr. (vulgar). —To ease
nature. — See BURY A QUAKER and
Do.
295
Do.
MRS. JONES. Also (colloquial),
to go away.
To DO A CRIB, verb. phr.
(thieves'). — To break into a
house, to burgle. Fr., maquiller
une cambriole. For synonyms, see
CRACK A CRIB.
To DO A GUY, verb. phr.
(thieves'). — i. To run away ; to
make an escape. [From DO, verb
of action + GUY, an escape.] For
synonyms, see AMPUTATE and
SKEDADDLE.
1889. Answers, 6 April, p. 297. They
all dispersed at once— to put it in their own
language, they DID A GUY.
2. (workman's). — To absent
oneself when supposed to be at
work.
To DO A NOB, verb. phr.
(circus and showmen's). — To
make a collection.
To DO A PITCH.— See PITCH.
To DO A RUSH. — See RUSH.
To DO A SNATCH. — See
SNATCH.
TO DO A STAR PITCH, verb,
phr. (theatrical). — To sleep in
the open air. Fr., loger a la
belle etoile. For synonyms, see
HEDGE SQUARE.
To DO A BROWN. — See under
BROWN ; also BAMBOOZLE. Also
TO DO BROWN and TO DO IT UP
BROWN.
To DO FOR, verb. phr. (com-
mon).—!. To ruin. Also, to kill,
in which sense, cf., quots., 1650
and 1877. For synonyms, see
DEAD BROKE and COOK ONE'S
GOOSE respectively.
1650. HOVVELL, Familiar Letters.
The Emperor, who, rather than becom
captif to the base Tartar, burnt his castle,
and DID AWAY himself, his thirty wives,
and children.
1752. FIELDING, Amelia, bk. vi., ch.
iv. He said something, too, about my
master . . . he said he would DO FOR him,
I am sure he said that ; and other wicked,
bad words, too, if I could but think of
them.
1811. JANE AUSTEN, Sense and S.,
ch. xli. He has DONE FOR himself com-
pletely ! shut himself out for ever from all
decent society !
1877. Five Yeats' Penal Servitude,
ch. iii., p 233. He called out, He's DONE
FOR me ; he's DONE FOR me ; send at once
for Doctor Howell.
2. (common). — To attend on
(as landladies' on lodgers).
3. (thieves'). — To convict ; to
sentence. DONE FOR = convicted.
TO DO A GRIND, A MOUNT, A
TREAD, etc., verb. phr. (venery).
— To copulate.
TO DO or PLAY GOOSEBERRY.
— See GOOSEBERRY.
To DO GOSPEL, verb. phr.
(common). — To go to church.
TO DO THE HANDSOME or
THE HANDSOME THING, Verb.
phr. (colloquial). — To behave
extremely well to one.
To DO IT AWAY, verb. phr.
(thieves'). — To dispose of stolen
gOOds. Also TO DO THE SWAG
(q. V. ) ; TO FENCE (q. V. ).
To DO IT ON THE B. H., verb.
phr. (common). — To perform with
ease. [B = bloody; H = head],
1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude,
ch. iii., p. 221. 'What's yer dose?"
Looking on to my badge, ' Five, oh, you
can do that little lot on yer 'ED EASY.'
To DO IT UP, verb. phr. (old).
— To accomplish an object in
view ; to obtain one's quest. To
DO IT UP IN GOOD TWIG = tO live
an easy life by one's wits.
Do.
296
Do.
TO DO ONE PROUD, phr.
(colloquial). — To flatter: e.g.,
Will you drink?' 'You DO
ME PROUD.'
1836. W. G. CLARK, Ollapodriana
Papers. To this damsel I addressed
myself, and solicited her hand in the
dance. She assented ; and with my brain
reeling with fancies of wine and women,
I really thought, for the moment, that
'she DID ME PROUD.'
1887. SIDNEY ~Lu SKA, Land of Love,
in ' Lippincott's Mag.,' p. 241. Ah? So?
The frank confession DOES YOU PROUD.
To DO OUT,zw£./^n(American
thieves'). — To plead guilty and
exonerate an accomplice.
To DO OVER, verb. phr. (com-
mon).— i. To knock down ; to
persuade ; to cheat ; to ruin.
1789. GEO. PARKER, Life's Painter,
p. 50. Who could, at any time, DO him
OVER, as they phrased it, for half-a-crown
or half-a-guinea.
1836. C. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers,
p. 326 (ed. 1857). Well, said Sam, he's
in a horrid state o' love ; reg'larly corn-
foozled, and DONE OVER with it.
2. (thieves'). — To search a
victim's pockets without his
knowing it. C/., RUN THE RULE
OVER.
3. (venery). — To seduce;
also to copulate. For synonyms,
see DOCK and RIDE respectively.
To DO POLLY, verb. phr.
(American prison). — To pick
oakum in gaol.
1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, or the
Rogue's Lexicon, s.v.
To DO ONE'S BUSINESS, verb,
phr. (common). — To kill. For
synonyms, see COOK ONE'S
GOOSE. Cf., BUSINESS. Also
( vulgar ), to evacuate ; and
(venery), to serve a woman.
1750. FIELDING, Tom Jones, bk.
VIII., ch. x. He concluded he had pretty
well DONE THEIR BUSINESS, for both of
them, as they ran off, cried out with bitter
oaths, that they were dead men.
1849. THACKERAY, Pendennis, ch.
xii. Then he took down his venerable
and murderous duelling-pistols, with flint
locks, that had DONE THE BUSINESS of
many a pretty fellow in Dublin.
1856. C. READE, Never Too Late,
ch. xvi. She was stronger than he was lor
a moment or two, and that moment would
have DONE HIS BUSINESS. She meant
killing.
To DO THE DOWNY, verb. phr.
(common). — To lie in bed.
DOWNY FLEA PASTURE = a bed.
Cf.t BALMY.
1841. LEMAN REDE, Sixteen-String
Jack, Act i., Sc. vi. Jer. The family's
GONE TO DOWNY NAP this half-hour. Why
don't the captain give the signal.
1853. C. BEDE, Verdant Green, pt.
ii., p. 59. This'll never do, Giglamps !
Cutting chapel TO DO THE DOWNY.
To DO THE SWAG, verb. phr.
(thieves'). — To sell stolen property,
Fr., laver la came lot e or les four-
gueroles. Cf.,ToDO CLOBBER.
To DO THE TRICK, verb. phr.
(colloquial). — To accomplish one's
object ; specifically (venery), to do
the ' act of kind ' effectually, and
(for woman), to get rid of one's
maidenhead.
1864. Derby Day, p. 38. If the
little 'un don't DO THE TRICK mean' him'll
fall out.
1870-2. Gallery of Comicalities.
Star of the stable ! Ostler Dick, Still in
your calling wide awake ; I warrant you
can po THE TRICK — A cunning cove, and
no mistake.
18(?). W. C. RUSSELL, Represen-
tative Actors, p. 476. Edmund Kean
then whispered in his son's ear ' Charlie,
we are DOING THE TRICK.'
To DO TIME, verb. phr.
(thieves'). — To serve a term of
imprisonment.
Do.
297
Dock.
1871. Times, Dec. Both ... fled
to New York to save DOING TIME on the
treadmill.
1884. Comhill Mag., June, p. 614.
He has repeatedly DONE TIME for
drunks and disorderlies, and for assaults
upon the police.
1888. Referee, 15 April, 3, i. The
robbers-in-chief, who had DONE TIME
before, were sentenced to five years' penal
servitude.
To DO TO DEATH, verb. phr.
(colloquial). — To repeat ad nau-
To DO TO TIE TO, verb. phr.
(American). — To be fit to associ-
ate with ; to be trustworthy.
To DO UP, verb. phr. (com-
mon).— To use up ; finish ; or
quiet. DONE UP = tired out ;
ruined; 'sold up.' For syno-
nyms, see FLOORED.
1594. NASHE, Unf. Traveller, in
wks. v., 170. 1 wascleane spent and DONE,
there was no hope of me.
1667. DRYDEN, Ann. Mir.,^ st. 70.
Not so the Holland fleet, who, tired and
DONE, Stretch'd on their decks like weary
oxen lie.
1815. SCOTT, Guy Mannering, ch.
xxxiv. ' How did he get back from
India? ' ' Why, how should I know ? The
house there was DONE UP, and that gave us
a shake at Middleburgh.'
1831. DISRAELI, The Young Duke,
bk. iv., ch. xii., p. 245 (ed. 1866), 'The
Universe' and 'The New World' an-
nounced that the young duke was DONE
UP.
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and L on. Poor, vol. iii., p. 264. A man's
DONE UP at fifty, and seldom lives long
after, if he has to keep on at coal-portering.
1870. L. OLIPHANT, Piccadilly, pt.
iii.; p. 130. I am awfully DONE, said
Spiffy. I never went to bed at all last
night.
[For the rest, DO, like CHUCK and
COP, is a verb-of-all-work, and is used in
every possible and impossible connection.
Thus, TO DO REASON and TO DO RIGHT =
to honour a toast ; TO DO A BIT OF STIFF
= to draw a bill ; TO DO A CHUCK = to
eject, or to go away ; TO DO A RUB-UP
= to masturbate ; TO DO A SIP (back slang)
= to make water ; TO DO A CAT = to
vomit ; TO DO A HALL or A THEATRE=IO
visit a music hall or a playhouse ; TO DO A
FLUFF (theatrical)=to forget one's part;
TO DO A PITCH (showman's or street artists')
= to go through a performance ; TO DO A
MOUCH or A MiKE=to go on the prowl;
TO DO A GROUSE = to go questing for
women; TO DO A DOSS = to go to sleep ;
TO DO A CADGE = tO go begging ; TO DO A
TUMBLE or A SPREAD=to lie down to a
man ; TO DO A PERPENDICULAR or KNEE-
TREMBLER=to copulate standing ; TO DO
A SCRAP = to engage in combat; TO DO A
RURAL =to 'rear' by the wayside ; TO DO
A DIVE IN THE DARK = tO Copulate J etc.
DOASH, subs. (Old Cant). — A cloak.
For synonyms, see CAPELLA.
DOBBIN, subs. (old). — Ribbon.
DOBBIN RIG = stealing ribbon.
DOCK, subs, (printers'). — I. The
weekly work bill or POLE (q.v.).
2. (popular). — The hospital.
Verb (old).— I. To deflower ;
hence, by implication, to possess ;
[Gypsy dilkker, to ravish]. Femi-
nine analogues are TO HAVE
DONE THE TRICK; TO HAVE
HAD IT; TO HAVE DONE IT AT
LAST J TO BE CRACKED IN THE
RING ; TO HAVE BROKEN HER
TEA-CUP ; TO HAVE HAD IT
THERE ; TO HAVE GONE STAR-
GAZING ON HER BACK ; TO HAVE
GIVEN HER PUSSY A TASTE OF
CREAM ; TO HAVE LET THE
PONY OVER THE DYKE (Scots') J
TO HAVE BROKEN HER KNEES
Or HER LEG J TO HAVE SPRAINED
HER ANKLE. Fr., avoir vu If
loup ; laisser aller le chat au
frontage ; and avoir vu la lune ;
whilst Vavoir encore and avoit
encore tavoine is said of maids.
Sp., desvirgar = to deflower :
DOCKED = possessed.
Docker.
298
Doctor.
1567. HARM AN, Caveat [ed. 1869,
E. E. T. Soc.], p. 87. He DOKTE the
dell.
1609. DEKKER, Lanthome and Can-
dlelight. 'Canting Rithmes.' DOCKED
the dell for a Coper meke.
1611. MIDDLETON and DEKKER,
Roaring Girl, v., i. And couch till a
pallyard DOCKED my dell.
- 2. (Winchester College).— To
scratch out ; to tear out (as from
a book) ; also to strike down.
To GO INTO DOCK, verb. phr.
(nautical). — To undergo saliva-
tion.
TO BE DOCKED SMACK
SMOOTH,' verb. phr. (old).— To
have suffered amputation of the
penis.
DOCKER, subs, (legal). — i. A brief
handed to counsel by a prisoner
in the dock. Legal etiquette
compels acceptance if ' marked '
with a minimum fee of £i 35. 6d.
2. (colloquial). — A dock la-
bourer.
DOCK-WALLOPER, subs. (Ameri-
can). — A loafer ; one who loiters
about docks and wharves ; also
an unemployed emigrant.
1871. DE VERB, Americanisms, p.
344. ... A DOCK-WALLOPER is an object
of great contempt to Jack.
DOCKYARDER, subs, (nautical). —
A skulker. Cf., STRAWYARDER
DOCKYARD-HORSE, subs. (naval). —
An officer better at correspon-
dence than at active service.
DOCTOR, subs. (old). — i. A false
die ; sometimes a manipulated
card. — See To PUT THE DOCTOR
ON ONE.
1(588. SHADWELL, Sq. ofAlsatia, I.,
in wks. (1720), iv., 18. Self. Sen. Tatts,
and DOCTOR ! what's that ? Sham. The
tools of sharpers, false dice.
1709. CENTLIVRE, Gamester, Act i.
Now, sir, here is your true dice, a man
seldom gets anything by them ; here is
your false, sir ; hey, how they run ! Now,
sir, those we generally call DOCTORS.
1750. FIELDING, Tom Jones. Here,
said he, taking some dice out of his pockets,
here are the little DOCTORS which cure
the distempers of the purse.
.1822. SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel, ch.
xxxiii. A gamester, one who deals with
the devil's bones and the DOCTORS.
1823. SCOTT, Peveril, ch. xxviii.
The dicers with their DOCTORS in their
pockets, I presume.
2. (common). — An adulterant.
Cf., TO KEEP THE DOCTOR.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
s.v. A composition used by distillers to
make spirits appear stronger than they
really are.
1828. G. SMEATON, Doings in Lon-
don. Maton, in his ' Tricks of Bakers
Unmasked,' says alum, which is called the
DOCTOR, ground and unground, is sold to
the bakers at fourpence per pound.
3. (licensed victuallers'). —
Brown sherry. [Because a 'doc-
tored ' (q. v. ), wine. Cf. , sense 2. ]
4. '(nautical and up-country
Australian). — A ship's cook.
5. (Winchester College).— The
head master.
1870. MANSFIELD, School Life at
Winchester College, p. 27. The head
master, or the DOCTOR, as he is always
called, lives in ' Commoners' buildings.'
6. (Old gamesters').— The last
throw of dice or ninepins.
Verb (common). — I. To patch;
adulterate ; falsify ; ' cook.'
1837. R. H. BARHAM, Ingoldsby
Legends [ed. 1862], p. 464. She DOC-
TOR'D the punch and she DOCTOR'D the
negus, Taking care not to put in sufficient
to flavour it.
Doctor Draw-fart. 299
Dodge.
1862. H. GKEKLEY, in N. Y. Inde-
pendent. The news [of success to the
United States armies, said the English
leading journals] all came through North-
ern channels, and was DOCTORED by the
government which controlled the telegraph.
2. (sporting). — To poison a
horse.
TO KEEP THE DOCTOR, verb.
phr. (licensed victuallers'). — To
make a practice of adulterating
the liquor sold. Cf., DOCTOR,
subs., sense 2.
TO PUT THE DOCTOR ON ONE,
verb. fhr. (common). — To cheat.
DOCTOR DRAW- FART, subs. phr.
(common). — A wandering quack.
DOCTORED, ppl. adj. (common). —
Patched ; adulterated ; falsified ;
'cooked.'
1866. G. ELIOT, Felix Holt, ch.
xxviii. The Cross-keys . . . had
DOCTORED ale, an odour of bad tobacco,
and remarkably strong cheese.
DOD BURN IT! intj.phr. (American).
A euphemistic oath ; on the model
of DADBINGED (.V.}.
DODDER, subs. (Irish). — Burnt to-
bacco taken from the bottom of a
gipe and placed on the top of a
•esh plug to give a stronger
flavor.
DODDERER, subs, (street). — A
meddler ; always used in con-
tempt. Sometimes DODDERING
OLD SHEEP'S HEAD, which also
=a fool.
DODDY, subs, (provincial). — In
Norfolk a person of low stature.
Sometimes HODMANDOD and
HODDY-DODDY, all head and no
body. DODMAN in the same
dialect = a snail.
DODFETCHED, adj. (American). —
A euphemistic oath. [Dod =
God.] Most of its kind have
originated in New England,
where the descendants of the
Puritans form the largest portion
of the population.
1888. Texas Siftings, 7 July. _ Then
the poet was sore grieved, and he said unto
himself, ' I'm a DODFETCHED fool.'
DODGASTED, adj. (American). —
See DODFETCHED.
1888. Detroit Free Press. It's
a DODGASTED funny thing, Uncle Zeke,
but it's a fact, never knew it to fail ;
straight as a string, too.
fo. and vei-b, [and deriva-
tive. DODGING, verb, subs.'}
(colloquial). — To trick ; to
swindle ; to elude. Once slang,
now recognised. Used in various
combinations : THE PIOUS DODGE
= a pretence of piety; THE
TIDY-DODGE = begging in the
streets with tidily but poorly
dressed children, etc. Also, to
' nart.' For synonyms, see LAY.
1708. SWIFT, Abolishing of Chris-
tianity in prose wks. (Camelot Cl.), p.
235. The chaffering with Dissenters, and
DODGING about this or the other ceremony.
1754. B. MARTIN, Eng. Diet. (2nd
ed.). To DODGE ... 2. To be off and
on. 3. To prevaricate, or play shifting
tricks.
1836. C. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers,
p. 135 ('ed. 1857). ' It was all false, of
course?' 'All, sir,' replied Mr. Weller,
' reg'lar do, sir ; artful DODGE.'
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. i., p. 227. Conscious
how much their own livelihood depends upon
assumption and trickery, they naturally
consider that others have some DODGE, as
they call it, or some latent object in view
when any good is sought to be done them.
1856. Punch, vol. XXXI., p. 217.
Long though your sentence and your task
severe, The pious DODGE a ticket soon will
send.
1865. Spectator, 2 Dec., Women's
Tact. [Mrs. Caudle.] Nagged, and
Dodger.
300 Does your Mother.
nagging is universally useful only with
maids. She lost her temper occasionally,
and the suffering angel DODGE is a very
much more effective as well as Christian
resource.
1865. Spectator (On the Academy
Dinner), p. 492. Earl Russell . . . broke
loose from one conventionality of public
dinners to fall into another. He DODGED
the toast of Her Majesty's Ministers, and
did not promise the Academy.
1883. Daily Telegraph, 23 March,
p. 6, col. i. He is naturally anxious to
ascertain if any new DODGE has been
brought to light, and what was the amount
of the penalty imposed for its perpetra-
tion.
DODGER, subs, (common). — i. A
trickster. Cf., The 'Artful
Dodger' ( DICKENS, Oliver T^vistt
ch. viii. ). Fr. , tore ficelle = ' to be
a dodger.'
1611. COTGRAVE, Diet., Caqueraffe,
a base micher, scurvie hagler, lowsie
DODGER, etC.
1825. SCOTT, St. Ronan's Well, ch.
xxviii. A sly cock, this Frank Tyrrel,
thought the traveller ; a very complete
DODGER — but no matter — I shall wind him,
were he to double like a fan.
1887. BAUMANN, Londonismen, vi.
So from hartful young DODGERS, From
vaxy old codgers, From the blowens ve got
Soon to know vot is vol.
2. (popular). — A dram ; pro-
vincially, a NIGHTCAP. For syno-
nyms, see Go.
3. (American). — A hard-baked
cake or biscuit, more usually
termed CORN-DODGER. When
mixed with beef, BEEF-DODGERS.
4. (American). — A handbill.
1888. Texas Siftings, 15 Sept. Then
I would have a great quantity of little
DODGERS printed to throw around every-
where.
DODO, subs. (old). — A stupid,
old man.
Do D ROTTED, ppl. adj. (American).
— A euphemistic oath. See OATHS.
1887. Century Magazine^, You ketch
us with yer DODROTTED foolin', says he ;
we hain't the kind to be fooled.
DOES r(1 phr. (common). — A sar-
castic retort.— See DOES YOUR
MOTHER KNOW YOU'RE OUT ?
DOES YOUR MOTHER KNOWYOU'RE
OUT'? ' pkr. (streets'). — A popular
locution, vague as to meaning
and inexact in application — an ex-
pression expressive of contempt,
incredulity, sarcasm, anything you
please. — See ALL MY EYE, STREET
CRIES, and infra. -
ENGLISH VARIANTS. — Has
• your mother sold her mangle ?
Not to-day, or it won't do, Mr.
Ferguson ! Sawdust and treacle !
Draw it mild ! And the rest !
Who are you ? All round my
hat ! Go it, ye cripples ! Shoo,
fly ! How does the old thing
work ? Well, you know how it
is yourself ! How's your poor
feet ? Why, certainly ! I'll have
your whelk ! Not to-day, baker,
call to-morrow, and we'll take a
crusty one ! Do you see any
green in my eye ? Put that in
your pipe and smoke it ! Where
are you going on Sunday ? Go
to Putney! Who stole the donkey:
the man in the white hat ! Cough,
Julia ! Over the bender ! There
you go with your eye out ! etc.,
etc.
FRENCH VARIANTS. — Et les
mois de nourrice= (and the rest !) ;
du combustible (popular : = go it
you cripples ) ; tu f en ferais peter
le cylindre (popular : = don't you
wish you may get it); chic he !
(popular : a defiant refusal) ;
chaleur ! (popular : expressive of
contempt, disbelief, and ironical
admiration) ; croyez ca et buvez de
feau (popular : = believe that and
Dog.
301
Dogberry.
drink water) ; a Chaillot — f go
to Bath and get your head
shaved') ; tu fen ferais crever
(pop. :=don't you wish you may
get it) ; colle-toi (a dans Fcornet
(pop. : — put that in your pipe and
smoke it ! ) je la connais (pop. : =
do you see any green ? ' ) ;
fentrave pas dans tes vannes
(thieves' : = you don't take me
in) ; de la bourrache ! (popular :
= no go) ; un sale true pour la
fanfare (popular : an expression
of disgust) ; de qtioi (popular :
what next ? also = wealth, money,
etc. ) ; allez done raconter cela a
dache (thieves' : = tell that to the
marines ! ) ; des dattes ! (pop. : =
take a carrot ! ) ; et ta stxur
(popular : indicative of refusal,
contempt, and insult) ; faut pas
trflafaire (popular : = Walker ! ) ;
elle pottce (pop. : = and the rest !)
1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 6, col. 2.
Where are they that should protect thee
In this darkling hour of doubt? Love
could never thus neglect thee ! DOES
YOUR MOTHER KNOW YOU'RE OUT?
1864. Sun, 28 Dec. ' Review of
Hotten's Slang Dictionary.' Ridiculous
street cries, such as DOES YOUR MOTHER
KNOW YOU'RE OUT? or, Has your Aunt
sold her mangle ? or, You don't lodge here,
Mr. Fergusson — whatever those sapient
remarks may mean.
DOG, stibs. (colloquial). — I. A man;
sometimes used contemptuously
(Cf.t Cat = a woman), but more
frequently in half-serious chiding ;
e.g. , a sad DOG, gay DOG, old DOG,
etc. For synonyms, see COVE.
Sometimes adjectively = male ;
see quotr, 1856. AN OLD DOG AT
IT = expert, or accustomed to.
1596. NASHE, Have -with you, Epis.
Ded. par. 5. O, he hath been olde DOGGE
at that drunken, staggering kinde of verse.
1697. VANBRUGH, &soj>, part II.,
Sc. iii. Why, I'm a strong young DOG,
you old gent, you.
1703. MRS. CENTLIVRE, Stolen
Heiress, I., wks, (1872), i., 336. She is in
love, forsooth, with a young beggarly DOG
not worth a groat.
1736. FIELDING, Don Quixote, II.
iv. A comical DOG, I fancy ; go, give my
service to him.
£.1764,0?. 1817. J. G. HcLMAN^m*/
and at Home, I., 3. And my praise to
withhold none so currish, With a girl so
divine ! Such dinners ! such wine ! What
a d — d clever DOG was Jack Flourish !
1810. CRABBE, The Borough, Letter
6, Law. For he'd a way that many judg'd
polite, A cunning DOG — he'd fawn before
he'd bite.
1836. C. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers,
p. 369. fed. 1857). Curse me, they're
friends of mine from this minute and
friends of Mivins, too. Infernal pleasant,
fentlemenly, DOG Mivins, isn't he? said
mangle, with great_feeling.
1856. WHYTE MELVILLE, Kate
Coventry, ch. vii. Then comes Ascot, for
which meeting they leave the metropolis,
and enjoy some quiet retreat in the neigh-
bourhood of Windsor, taking with them
many potables, and what they call a DOG
cook.
2. (thieves'). — A burglar's iron.
For synonyms, see JEMMY.
1888. American Humorist, 31 Mar.
The safe was rifled, and every appearance
of robbery was manifest. In this case the
murderer was discovered by means of a
DOG, which was described in the newspapers
as having certain peculiar scratches on it.
Verb (venery).
on all fours.
To copulate
TO GO, or THROW TO THE
DOGS. — See Go and DEMNITION
Bow-wows.
HAIR OF THE DOG THAT BIT
YOU.— See HAIR.
TO BLUSH LIKE A BLUR DOG.
— See BLUSH.
DOGBERRY, subs, (common). — A
stupid constable, or magistrate.
[From Much Ado abottt Nothing.]
For synonyms, see BEAK and
COPPER. .
Dog Biting Dog. 302
Doggy.
1864. M. E. BRADDON, Aurora Floyd,
ch. xxxviii. The detective had reason to
know that the DOGBERRIES of Doncaster,
. . were on the wrong scent.
1869. Gent. Mag., July, p. 195. I
trust I shall not be accounted a DOGBERRY,
lavish in my tediousness, if I bestow one
more anecdote upon my readers.
DOG BITING DOG, adv. phr. (the-
atrical). — Said of actors who
spitefully criticise each others
performance.
DOG-CHEAP, adj. (colloquial). —
Very cheap ; of little worth; fool-
ish. [SKEAT: from Swed., dog,
= very ; LATHAM : the first sylla-
ble is god = good, transposed +
CHEAP, from chapman, a mer-
chant — hence, a good bargain
(fr., bon marcke).~\
1598. SHAKSPEARE, i Henry IV.,
iii. 3. The sacK . . . would have bought
me lights as GOOD-CHEAP at the dearest
chandler's in Europe.
1606. DEKKER, Newesfrom Hell, in
wks. (Grosart), ii., 116. Three things
there are DOG-CHEAP, learning, poore men's
sweat, and others.
1663. DRYDEN, Wild Gallant,
No fat over-grown virgin of forty ever
offered herself so DOG CHEAP, or was more
despised.
1772. FOOTE, Nabob, Act II. DOG-
CHEAP ; neck-beef; a penny-loaf for a half-
penny.
1830. MARRYAT, Kings Own, ch.
xxx. I'll sell mine, DOG-CHEAP, if any
one will buy it.
1851. CARLYLE, John Sterling, pt.
L, ch. x. There lay in a certain neigh-
bouring creek ot the Irish coast, a worn-
out royal gun-brig condemned to sale, to
be had DOG-CHEAP.
DOG- COLLAR, subs, (common). — A
' stand-up ' shirt collar ; an ALL-
ROUNDER (q.v.}.
1883. GRENVILLE-MURRAY, People I
have Met, p. 42. The DOG-COLLAR which
rose above the black cloth was of spotless
purity.
DOG- DRAWN (old), adj. phr. — Said
of a bitch from which a dog has
been removed by force during
coition. Sometimes applied to
women.
DOGGER, verb (Charterhouse). — To
cheat ; to sell rubbish.
DOGGERY, subs, (popular). — i.
Transparent cheating. Cf., DOG-
GER.
[Carlyle in Frederick uses DOGGERY =
the doings of a scurvy set of soldiers.]
2. (American).-- A low drink-
ing saloon.
1871. DE VERB, Americanisms, p.
315. DOGGERIES are only found near the
shanties of Irish laborers or in remote
western and southern settlements.
DOGGONED, adj. (American). — A
euphemistic oath.— See OATHS.
1852. GLADSTONE, Englishman in
Kansas, p. 46. If there's a DOG-GONED
abolitionist aboard this boat, I should like
to see him. I'm the man to put a chunk
o' lead into his woolly head right off.
1873. CARLTON, Farm Ballads, p.
80. But when that choir got up to sing,
I couldn't catch a word ; They sung the
most DOG-GONDEST thing A body ever
heard !
1879. EGGLESTON, The Hoosier
Schoolmaster. I never knowed but one
gal in my life as had cyphered into fractions,
and she was so DOG ON stuck up, that she
turned up her nose one night at an apple-
peeliri bekase I tuck a sheet off the bed to
splice out the table-cloth, which was rather
short.
DOGGY, subs, (mining). — See quot.
1845. DISRAELI, Sybil, bk, III. ch. i.,
note. A Batty in the mining districts is a
middleman ; a DOGGY is his manager.
Adj. (colloquial). — I. Con-
nected with, or relating to dogs.
1883. Graphic, 24 Feb., p. 199. col. 3.
Liverpool and the Adelphi Hotel in par-
ticular, are now [time of Altcar coursing
meeting] the headquarters of all the DOGGY
men of the three kingdoms.
Dog in a Blanket. 3°3
Dog's-nose.
2. (colloquial). — Stylish.
DOG IN A BLANKET, subs. phr.
(colloquial). — A pudding of pre-
served fruit spread on thin dough,
rolled up, and boiled ; also called
ROLY-POLY and STOCKING.
1887. G. A. SALA, in ///. Lou. News,
12 Feb., p. 174, col. 3. Bubble and
squeak ... is a colloquialism, and no
more slangy than ' toad in the hole ' or
DOG IN A BLANKET.
LIKE A DOG IN SHOES, adv.
phr. (Irish). — A pattering sound j
as the noise of a brisk walk.
DOG IN THE MANGER, subs. phr.
(colloquial). — A selfish churl ;
who does not want himself, yet
will not let others enjoy. [From
the fable.]
1621. BURTON, Anat. of Mel., I.,
II., III., xii., 189 (1836). Like a hog, or
DOG IN THE MANGER, he doth only keep it,
because it shall do nobody else good.
1673. DRYDEN, Amboyna, Act ii.
You're like DOGS IN THE MANGER, you
will neither manage it yourselves nor
permit your neighbours.
1757. GARRICK, Irish Widow, II.
That's the DOG IN THE MANGER ; you
can't eat the oats, and won't let those who
can.
1836. MARRYAT, Japhet, ch. Ixxii.
Why, what a DOG IN THE MANGER you
must be — you can't marry them both.
DOG-LATIN, subs, (colloquial). —
Barbarous or sham Latin ; also
KITCHEN, BOG, GARDEN, or
APOTHECARIES' LATIN.
1856. H. MAYHEW, Great World of
London, p. 149. A Spaniard . . . who
called himself a physician, and who, being
unable to speak English, communicated
with the doctor in a kind of Spanish DOG-
LATIN.
DOGS, sttbs. (university). — I. Sau-
sages ; otherwise BAGS OF MYS-
TERY (q.v.), or CHAMBERS OF
HORRORS (.v.).
2, (Stock Exchange). — New-
foundland Land Company's
shares ;. now amalgamated with
the Anglo-American United, and
called ANGLOS.
To GO TO THE DOGS. — See
under Go.
TO LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE.
— See SLEEPING DOGS.
DOG'S- BODY, subs, (nautical). —
Pease pudding.
1851. Chambers' Papers, No. 52, p.
16. Peas-pudding (alias DOG'S BODY) is
often allowed upon pork days.
1883. W. CLARK RUSSELL, Sailors
Language, p. 42. DOGS-BODY.— A mess
made of pea-soup, powdered biscuit, and
slush.
1889. Chambers' Journal, 3 Aug., p.
495, col. i.
DOG'S-EARED, adj. (colloquial).—
Crumpled, as the leaves of a page
with much reading.
DOG'S MATCH. To MAKE A DOG'S
MATCH OF IT, verb. phr. (vulgar).
— To copulate by the wayside.
DOG'S MEAT, subs, (colloquial). —
Anything worthless ; as a bad
book, a common tale, a villainous
picture, etc.
DOG-SHOOTER, subs. (old). — i. A
volunteer.
2. (Royal Military Academy). —
See quot.
1889. BARRERE, Slang, Jargon and
Cant, p. 317. Cadets thus term a student
who accelerates, that is, who, being pretty
certain of not being able to obtain a com-
mission in the engineers, or not caring for
it, elects to join a superior class before the
end of the term.
DOG'S- NOSE, subs, (common). —
A mixture of gin and beer. — Si*
DRINKS.
Dog's-paste,
304
Dolly.
1812. VAUX, Flash Diet., s.v.
1836. DICKENS, Pickwick, ch. xxxiii.,
p. 285. DOG'S NOSE . . . your committee
find upon enquiry, to be compounded of
warm porter, moist sugar, gin, and nutmeg.
1861. HUGHES, Tom Biown at Ox-
ford, ch. xl. Ah ! that's not bad tipple
after such a ducking as we've had. DOG'S
NOSE, isn't it ?
DOG'S- PASTE, subs, (common). —
Sausage or mince-meat. Cf.t
BAGS OF MYSTERY and CHAMBERS
OF HORROR (q.V.).
DOG'S- PORTION, subs, (common). —
'A lick and a smell,' i.e., next
to nothing.
DOG'S SLEEP, subs. phr. (collo-
quial). — The lightest possible
form of slumber.
DOG'S-SOUP, subs, (common). —
Water. For synonyms, see ADAM'S
ALE and FISH BROTH.
1836. W. H. SMITH. ' The Thieves'
Chaunt.' For she never lushes DOG'S-
SOUP or lap.
DOG'S-TAIL, subs, (nautical). — The
constellation of Ursa minor or
Little Bear.
DOG-STEAL ER, subs, (common). — A
dog-dealer ; applied sarcastically.
1854. WHYTE MELVILLE, General
Bounce, ch. xiii. Now nodding to a
trainer, now indulging in quaint badinage,
which the vulgar call ' chaff,' with a DOG-
STEALER.
DOLDRUMS, subs, (colloquial). —
Low spirits ; the DUMPS or
HUMP (q.v.). [Properly parts
of the ocean near the Equator
abounding in calms and light,
baffling winds.]
1865. M. BROWNE, in the ' Argosy,'
I., 36. An Apology for the Nerves. All
I say is, do not let us have any abuse of
he nerves. Do not confound nervousness
with the megrims, or the DOLDRUMS, or
any other complaint. Do not confound it
with cowardice or ill-temper.
1883. JAMES PAYN, The Canon's
Ward, ch. xi. She treated all subjects in
the same light way ; . . . from aversion to
serious thoughts of any kind, which she
stigmatised generally as the DOLDRUMS.
DOLE, subs. (Winchester College). —
A stratagem or trick. [From
Latin dohis.~\
DOLIFIER, subs. (Winchester Col-
lege).— One who contrives a trick.
— See DOLE.
DOLLAR, subs, (common). — A five-
shilling piece. HALF-DOLLAR =
half-a-crown, or two shillings.
For synonyms, see CAROON.
DOLLOP, subs, and verb (common).
A lot ; ALL THE DOLLOP = the
whole thing. Cf., quot., 1812.
In Norfolk TO DOLLOP = to dole
out; also to 'plank.' DOLLOPING
= throwing down.
1812. VAUX, Flash Diet., s.v. = the
whole sum of money.
1853. Notes and Queries, 16 July,
p. 65, col., 2. Applied to lumps of any
substances, whether food or otherwise.
Such a phrase as this might be heard :
What a DOLLOP of fat you have given me.
1871. Belt^s Life, 23 Dec. All we
wish to convey is, that a large bait is
absolutely necessary to a heavy bag of
chub. Exceptions may arise, as giants
may dally with crumbs, but as a rule these
fish desire a DOLLOP.
1876. HINDLEY, Life and Adventures
of a Cheap Jack, p. 28. I have known
men literally give their goods away, or to
throw them at each other, which is termed
DOLLOPING.
1883. Daily Telegraph, 8 March,
p. 4, col. i. A DOLLOP of something
having a mortar-like appearance, imagin-
atively styled pudding.
DOLLY, subs, (venery). — i. A
mistress. For synonyms, see
BARRACK-HACK and TART.
Dolly-mop.
305
Domino.
1647:48. HERRICK, Hesperides, p.
38. Drink, and dance, and pipe, and
play, Kisse our DOLLIES night and day.
1843. Punch, vol. V., p. 8. Dol is
a pure Anglo-Saxon word signifying dull,
erring — whence the English DOLLY, any
one who has made a. faux pas.
2. (tailors'). • — A piece of cloth
used as a sponge.
3. (venery). — The penis. For
synonyms, see CREAMSTICK.
Adj. (popular). — Silly.
1864. DICKENS, Our Mutual Friend,
bk. I., chap. 4. You are a chit and a
little idiot, returned Bella, or you
wouldn't make such a DOLLY speech.
DOLLY-MOP, subs, (common). —
Specifically, a professional
strumpet, but see quot., 1851.
For synonyms, see BARRACK-
HACK and TART.
1833. MARRYAT, Peter Simple, ch.
iv. The captain says we are to take the
young gentleman on board directly. His
liberty's stopped for getting drunk and
running after the DOLLY-MOPS !
1851. H. MAYHEW, Lon. Lab. and
Lon. Poor, IV., 234. Those women who,
for the sake of distinguishing them from
the professionals, I must call amateurs, are
generally spoken of as DOLLY-MOPS.
DOLLY-SHOP, subs, (common). — A
marine store : really an illegal
pawn-shop and FENCE (?.v.);
also LEAVING-SHOP. No ques-
tions are asked ; all goods
are received on the understanding
that they may be repurchased
within a given time ; so much
per day is charged ; no duplicate
is given ; and no books are kept.
[From the BLACK DOLL (g.v.)
suspended outside as a sign.]
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 142. If she
hasn't, or if the neighbours hasn't it, she
borrows it at a DOLLY-SHOP (the illegal
pawnshop).
1860-68. Chambers Encyclopedia, s.v.
1871. Echo, 16 March. Chimney
sweeps having lent their machines to
DOLLY-SHOP keepers for the price of a
spree, could not redeem them to commence
business.
DOME, subs, (common). — The head.
For synonyms, see CRUMPET.
DOM ESTic-AFFLiCTiONS,.wfo. (com-
mon). — The menstrual flux ; a
woman's flower-time. For syno-
nyms, see FLAG -UP.
DOME-STICK, subs, (common). —
A ' domestic ' servant.
DOM i N I E, subs, (old).— A clergyman;
modem Scots = a pedagogue or
schoolmaster. [From Latin domi-
nus, a lord or master.]
1616. BEAUMONT AND FLFTCHER,
Scornful Lady, II., i. Wei. [addressing
parson], Adieu, dear DOMINE !
1754. FOOTE, Knights, Act ii. She
alls in love with young Sleek, her father's
chaplain ; . . what does me I, but slips
on DOMINE'S robes, you ; passed myself
upon her for him, and we were tacked
together.
1819. MOORE, Tom Crib's Me-
morial, p. 21. And, take him at ruffian-
ing- work (though, in common, he Hums
about Peace and all that, like a DOMINE.
1883. BRINSLEY- RICHARDS, Seven
Years at Eton, xii., 122. The Scotch
DOMINIE, from whom he had learnt Latin
. . . knew nothing of elegiacs.
DOMINIE DO-LITTLE, subs. phr.
(old). — An impotent old man.
DOMINO I intj. (common). — An
ejaculation of completion : e.g.,
for sailors and soldiers at the
last lash of a flogging ; and for
'bus conductors when an omnibus
is full inside and out \N. and Q.,
6 S.,v., 229] j.also, by implication,
a knock-down blow, or the last of
a series. [From the call at the
end of a game of dominoes.]
20
Domino-Box.
306
Don.
DOMINO-BOX, subs. (old). — The
mouth. For synonyms, see
POTATO-TRAP.
1812. VAUX, Flash Dictionary ; s.v.
DOMINOES, subs, (popular). — i.
The teeth. For synonyms, see
GRINDERS.
1823. MONCRIEFF, Tom and Jerry,
ii., 6. Mr. J. Sluice your DOMINOS — vill
you ? Green. Vot ! I never plays at
dominos — It's too wulgar. M->. J. Vy,
then vash your ivories? Green. I've got
no hiveries to vash. Mr. J. Drink, vill
you? don't you understand Hinglish?
1856. H. MAYHEW, Gt. World of
London, p. 6, note. Fanciful metaphors
contribute largely to the formation of
slang. It is upon this principle that the
mouth has come to be styled the ' tater-
trap ' ; the teeth, DOMINOES.
1864. E. D. FORGUES, in Revue des
deiix Mondes, 15 Sept., p. 470. Le mot
'dents' est remplace par celui de DOMINOS
aussi bien sur les bordes de la Tamise que
sur ceux de la Seine.
2. (colloquial).— The keys of
a piano.
To SLUICE ONE'S DOMINOES,
•verb. phr. (common). — To drink.
— See quot., 1823 ante.
DOMINO-THUMPER, subs, (com-
mon).— A pianist.
DOMMERAR, DOMMERER, Or DUM-
MERER, subs. (old). — A beggar
feigning to be deaf and dumb ;
also, a madman.
1567. HARMAN, Caveat, p. 57.
These DOMMERARS are leud and most
subtyll people : the moste part of these
are Walch men, and wyll neuer speake,
vnlesse they haue extreame punishment,
but wyll gape, and with a maruelous force
wyll hold downe their toungs doubled,
groning for your charyty, and holding vp
their handes full pitiously, so that with
their deepe dissimulation they get very
much.
1621. BURTON, Anat. of Mel., I.,
II., IV., vi., 233 (1836). It compels some
miserable wretches to counterfeit several
diseases, to dismember, make themselves
blind, lame, to have a more plausible
cause to beg ... we have DUMMERERS,
Abraham men, etc.
1671. R. HEAD, English Rogue, pt.
I., ch. v. (Repr. 1874), p. 49. DOMMERAR,
a Madman.
1706. E. COLES, Eng. Diet. DOM-
MEROR, a Madman.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
s.v.
1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum. DOM-
MERER, a fellow that pretends to be deaf
and dumb.
DON, subs, (colloquial). — An adept;
a swell ; also a man that * puts
on side.' At the Universities a
fellow or officer of a college;
whence the vulgar usage. [From
Latin, dominus, a lord, through
the Spanish title.]
1665. DRYDEN, Indian Emperor,
Epilogue, 21. For the great DONS of wit-
Phoebus gives them full privilege alone,
To damn all others, and cry up their own.
_ 1698-1700. WARD, London Spy, pt.
xiii., p. 299. Like the Great Old DONS of
the Law, when they dance the Measures in
an Inns-of-Court Hall upon the first day
of Christmas.
1730. JAS. MILLER, Humours of
ford, Act I., p. 7(2 ed.) The old DONS . .
. . will come cringing, cap in hand, to offer
to show the ladies the curiosities of the
college.
1826. REYNOLDS ('Peter Corcoran')
Song on the Fancy. Dull innocence !
Twaddle on, Thy weary worshipper — and
fain Would give thee up, to be a DON,
And beat the watch in Drury Lane.
1855. THACKERAY, Newcomes, ch.
xi. Does not go much into society, except
.... once or twice to the houses of great
country DONS who dwell near him in the
country.
c. 1880. Broadside Ballad, sung by
JENNY HILL. ' 'Arry, 'Arry, There you
are now, 'Arry, I say, 'Arry, by Jove,
you are a DON.'
Adj. (common). — Clever, ex-
pert ; first rate. [From the subs.
sense. ]
Dona.
307
Donkey.
DONA, DONNA, DONNY, or DONER,
subs. (vulgar). — A woman.
[From the Italian.] For syno-
nyms, see PETTICOAT.
1875. Athemeum, 24 April, p. 545,
col. 2. A circus man almost always speaks
of a circus woman, not as a woman, but a
DONA.
DONAKER, subs. (old). — A cattle-
lifter.
1669. Nicker Nicked, in Harl.
Misc. (ed. Park), ii., 108.
DONE! intj. (common). — An inter-
jection of acceptance or agree-
ment.
1602. DEKKER, Honest Whore, in
wks. (1873), ii., 17. Cast. . . . Tie wage
a hundred duckats upon the head on't, that
it moves him, frets him, and galles him.
Pio. DONE, 'tis a lay, joyne gols [hands]
on't.
1761. COLMAN, Jealous Wife, IV.,
in wks. (1777), i., 106. Why, it's a match,
miss ! it's DONE and DONE on both sides.
1762. GOLDSMITH, Life of Nash, in
wks., p. 546 (Globe). Why, if you think
me a dab 1 will get this strange gentleman,
or this, pointing to the flat. DONE ! cries
the sailor, but you shall not tell him.
1840. THACKERAY, Paris Sketch-book,
p. 196. ' I will bet thee thy water for a
year that none of the three will pray for
thee.' ' DONE ! ' said Rollo. ' DONE !
said the daemon.'
Ppl. adj. (common). — Exhaus-
ted ; ruined ; cheated ; convicted.
[See Do in most of its senses. ]
DONE-OVER, adj. (common). — I.
Intoxicated. For synonyms, see
SCREWED.
2. (venery). Possessed in kind;
said only of women.
DONKEY, subs, (printers'). — I. A
compositor ; pressmen are in
turn called PIGS (q.v.).
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. — Ass ;
moke ; galley-slave.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. — Un
mulet (printers' ) ; tin compositeur
mie de pain (an unskilled or
clumsy workman ; mie de pain
also — a louse); un marron (a
compositor working on his own
account with another printer's
plant) ; un homme de lettres
( = a man of letters) ; un singe
( = a monkey) ; un amphibie (a
compositor who is DONKEY and
PIG \_q.v^\ together).
1857. In Notes and Queries, z S., iv.,
192. Compositors are jocosely called
mokes or DONKEYS.
2. (nautical). — A sailor's chest.
3. (colloquial). — A blockhead.
For synonyms, see CABBAGE-HEAD
and BUFFI.E.
A PENNY, TWOPENCE Or
THREEPENCE MORE AND UP
GOES THE DONKEY, phr. (com-
mon). — An exclamation of derision.
[Street acrobats' : the custom was
to finish off the pitch by balancing
a donkey at the top of a ladder on
receipt of ' tuppence more ' ; which
sum, however often subscribed,
was always re-demanded, so that
the donkey never * went up ' at
all.]
1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 41, col. 2.
Mr. Joseph Muggins begs to inform his
old crony, Punch, that the report of Sir
John Pullon, ' as to the possibility of
elevating an ass to the head of the poll by
bribery and corruption ' is perfectly
correct, provided there is no abatement in
the price. Let him canvass again, and
Mr. J. M. pledges himself, whatever his
weight, if he will only stand ONE PENNY
MORE, UP GOES THE DONKEY !
1850. F. E. S MED LEY, Frank
Fairleigh, ch. xv. He . . . has left the
key in the lock ; so I shall take the liberty
of exploring a little ; I've a strong though
undeveloped taste for architectural antiqui-
ties. TWOPENCE MORE, AND UP GOES THE
DONKEY ! Come along ! So saying, he
flung open the door.
Donkey-Drops.
3°8 Dorttyou wish, &c.
WHO STOLE THE DONKEY ?
phr. (common). — A street cryonce
in vogue on the appearance of a
man in a white hat. With a
similar expression ' Who stole the
leg of mutton ' ? applied to the
police, it had its rise in a case of
larceny. J. H. Dixon, writing to
Hotten, Nov. 6th, 1864, remem-
bered both. The first occurred at
Hatton Garden Police Court,
where a man, wearing a white
hat, was charged with stealing a
costermonger's donkey.
1889. Sporting Times, 3 Aug., p. 3,
Col. 5. WHO STOLE THE DONKEY? The
man with the white hat ! This was a very
popular street colloquy some years ago.
TO RIDE THE DONKEY, verb,
phr. (common). — To cheat with
weights and measures. Also
DONKEY - RIDING = cheating as
aforesaid. Cf., AMBUSH.
1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, or
Rogue's Lexicon. DONKEY - RIDING.
Cheating in weight or measure ; mis-
counting.
TO TALK THE HIND LEG OFF
A DONKEY.— See TALK.
DONKEY-DROPS, subs. phr. (cricket).
— See quot.
1890. THE HON. AND REV. E.
LYTTELTON, Cricket, p. 69. Slow round-
hand bowling, such as is seldom seen in
good matches, but is effective against boys,
and is known by the contumelious desig-
nation Of DONKEY-DROPS.
DON KEY'S- EARS, subs, (old). — All
old-fashioned shirt - collar with
long points.
DONNA. — See DONA.
DONNISH, adj. DONNISM, DON-
NISHNESS, subs. (University). —
Arrogant ; arrogance. [From DON
1823. Hints for Oxford, p. 66. The
Bachelors, we imagine, are the most
pleasant set of beings in Oxford . . .
They have luckily not been so long
emancipated as to have become stiff, and
DONNISH, and disagreeable.
c. 1830. Ballad, quoted in N. and
Q., 2nd S., xii., 154. Our Yankee, who'd
commenced the fight and rather to be
DONNISH meant, Sam sqitabbled felt (as
well he inigh£)vrit\\ genu-ine astonishment.
1853. THACKERAY, in Scribners Mag. ,
Oct., 1887, p. 415. At Boston is very good
literate company indeed ; it is like Edin-
burgh for that,— a vast amount of toryism
and DONNISHNESS everywhere.
1888. MRS. WARD, Robt. Elsmere,
vol. I., bk. I., ch. ii., p. 48. He was a
curious man, a refined-looking, melancholy
creature, with a face that reminded you of
Wordsworth, and cold DONNISH ways,
except to his children and the poor.
DON NY. —See DONA.
DONOVANS, subs. (old). — Potatoes.
Cf., MURPHY. [Donovan, like
Murphy, is a common Irish pa-
tronym. ]
DON'S WEEK, subs. phr. (tailors').
— The week before a general holi-
day.
DON'T GET YOUR BACK UP. — See
BACK, and HOLD YOUR HAIR
ON.
DON'T-NAME-'EMS, subs. phr. (com-
mon). — Trousers. For syno-
nyms, see KICKSIES.
DON'T YOU WISH YOU MAY GET IT,
phr. (street). — A retort forcible.
1837. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends
(ed. 1862,), p. 179. A thousand marks,
continued the confessor. . . . Sir Guy
shrank from the monk's gaze ; he turned to
the window, and muttered to himself some-
thing that sounded like, ' DON'T YOU WISH
YOU MAY GET IT?'
1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 22, col. 2.
Who would own her heart thine, Though a
monarch beset it, And love on unchanged,
DON'T YOU WISH YOU MAY GET IT?'
Doodle.
309
Dor.
1844. Puck, p. 14. The Proctor
caught him in a spree, Asked his name and
college with courtesie ; ' DON'T YOU WISH
YOU MAY GET IT ? ' and off he ran, Did my
spicy swell small college man.
DOODLE, subs., (old). — i. A dolt.
For synonyms, see BUFFLE and
CABBAGE-HEAD. [Thought to be
a corruption of DAWDLE, to trifle.]
1775. ASH, Eng. Diet., s.v.
1830. S. WARREN, Diary of a Late
Physician, ch. v. I know it was every
word composed by that abominable old
addlehead, Dr. , a DOODLE that he
is!
2. (old). — The penis. For
synonyms, see CREAMSTICK.
1785. GROSE, Die. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
DOODLED,///, adj. (old). — Cheated,
'done.'
1823. MONCRIEFF, Tom and Jerry,
i., 7. No, I'm out of spirits because I have
been dished and DOODLED out of forty
pounds to-day.
DOODLE-DASHER, subs, (venery). —
A masturbator. [From DOODLE,
the penis + DASHER.]
DooDLE-DOO-MAN,.r«fo. (old cock-
pit). — A cockfighter or breeder.
[From the childish name for
poultry.]
DOODLESACK, subs, (old). • — The
female pudendum. Also DOODLE-
CASE and DOODLE-TRAP. For
synonyms, see MONOSYLLABLE.
DOOG, adj. (back-slang). — Good.
DOOKIE, subs, (theatrical). — A
penny show or unlicensed theatre.
Cf., GAFF.
DOOKIN and DOOKERING, subs.
(thieves' and gypsies'). — Fortune-
telling.
1857. SNOWDEN, Mag. Assistant,
3rd ed., p. 444.
DOOKIN-COVE, subs, (common). —
A fortune-teller. [From DOOKIN
= fortune-telling = COVE, a man. ]
DOOR-NAIL. DEAD AS A DOOR-
NAIL.— See DEAD.
DOORSMAN, subs, (common). — See
BARKER and CLICKER.
DOORSTEP, subs, (common). — A
thick slice of bread and butter.
Fr., une fondant e.
1885. Miss TENNANT, in Eng. III.
Mag., Tune, p. 604. DOORSTEPS, I
found, were thick slices of bread spread
with jam.
1890. Spectator^ 3 May, Rev. of
vol. I., ' Slang and its Analogues.' . . .
The extraordinary ' bouncer ' that a very
common request at Lockhart's coffee -
houses in London is for ' a DOORSTEP and
a sea-rover,' i.e., for a halfpenny slice of
bread and butter and a herring, &c.
DOOTEROOMUS or Door, subs.
(American). — Money. For syno-
nyms, see ACTUAL and GILT.
1871. DE VERB, Americanisms, s.v.
DOPE, verb (American). — To
drug with tobacco. Also DOPING
— the practice.
DOPEY, subs. (old). — i. A beggar's
trull.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
2. (old).— The podex.
DOR, subs. (Old Westminster
School). — I. — See quot.
1715. J. KERSEY, English Dictionary.
Sub voce, a term used at Westminster
School for leave to sleep awhile.
2. (old). — An affront.
1600. JONSON, Cynthia, s Revels.
Doras.
310
Doss.
DORAS, subs. (Stock Exchange). —
South- Eastern Railway Deferred
Ordinary Stock, sometimes applied
to the ' A ' Stock.
DOKB\E,sttds. (Scots Masonic). — An
initiate.
THE DORBIES' KNOCK, subs,
phr. — A peculiar rap given by
masons as a signal amongst them-
selves. It may be represented by
the time of the following notes :
rrcirr
DORCAS, subs, (colloquial), — A
sempstress ; especially one em-
ploying herself for charitable pur-
poses.
DORSE.— See Doss.
DOSE, subs, (thieves'). — I. A sen-
tence of imprisonment ; speci-
fically three months' hard la-
bour.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS.— Spell,
time, drag, three moon, length,
stretch, seven-pennorth, sixer,
twelver, lagging.
FRENCH SYNONYM. — Une
marque.
1877. Five Years Penal Servitude,
ch. iii., p. 22. 'What's yer POSE?' look-
ing on to my badge ; ' five, oh, you can do
that little lot on yer 'ed easy.'
2. (thieves'). — A burglary.
1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, or
Rogues Lexicon, s.v.
3. (pugilistic). — A beating.
1819. MOORE, Tom Crib's Memorial
to Congress, p. 17. Sandy tipp'd him a
DOSE of that kind, that, when taken, It
isn't the stuff, but the patient that's shaken.
4. (colloquial). — As much
liquor as one can hold,
TO HAVE A DOSE OF THE
BALMY, verbal phr. (common). —
To 'do a sleep.' — See BALMY and
Doss.
TO TAKE A GROWN MAN'S
DOSE, verb. phr. (common). — To
take a very large quantity of
liquor.
Doss or DORSE, subs, (vagrants'). —
A bed, or lodging ; also a sleep,
or LIB (q.v.}. [Origin uncertain.]
For synonyms, see KIP and
BALMY.
1789. GEO. PARKER, Lifers Painter,
p. 165. Dorsed. The place where a person
sleeps, or a bed. ' I DORSED there last
darkey.'
1858. MAYHEW, Paved -with Gold,
p. 118. Into this branch curtained retreat,
the lads crept on all fours, one after another,
to enjoy their DOSS, as, in their slang, they
called sleep.
1883. Daily News, 3 April, p. 3,
col. 5. He replied that he had only come
there to have a DOSS (sleep).
1889. Pall Mall Gazette, 9 Sep., p. 3,
col. 2. If you want a DOSS, a DOSS is
provided. A wooden framework, about as
wide as the widest part of a coffin, and a
wooden pillow and a blanket of leather.
Verb (vagrants') — To sleep.
For synonyms, see BALMY and
infra. Also DORSE.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. — To go
to the arms of Murphy (q.v.) ;
to have forty winks ; to go
to Bedfordshire ; to take a
little (or do a dose) of the
balmy ; to chuck (or do) a doss ;
to snooze ; to go to by-by ; to
read the paper ; to shut one's eyes
to think ; to retire to the land of
Nod.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. — Battre
la convert e (military) ; se f outre un
coup de traversin ( = to have a
Dosser.
3 i 1 Dot-and- Carry- One.
little turn up with the bolster) ; se
backer •, pagnolter or percher (to
roost) ; se mettre dans la bdche ;
se bourser (popular) ; eteindre son
gaz (popular : to put out one's
light ; = also to die); entrer aux
quinze-vingts (Les Qttinze-vingts
= a government hospital for the
blind) ; dorntir en chien de fusil
(i.e., to sleep sitting, the head be-
tween the knees) ; domiir en gen-
darme (popular : ' to sleep with
one eye round the corner') \fermer
les chdssis (to put up shutters or
* peepers') ; se caller dans le pieti
(popular).
SPANISH SYNONYMS. — Acos-
tarse con las gallinas (= to go to
bed by cock-light) ; encamarse ;
tomarle d uno el sueno ; tumbar
(literally, to tumble down).
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
s.v. To DORSE with a woman signifies to
sleep with her.
1846. Punch, vol. XI., p. 163.. Then
silent flowed the tears of those maidens as
perforce, Each saw her favourite champion
sent, as Bell's Life says, DORSE.
1850. Lloyds Weekly, 3 Feb., ' Low
Lodging House of London.' One said,
Mate, how long have you been knocking
about ; where did you DOSS ? I didn't
know what they meant, and when they'd
told me, they meant, where did I sleep ?
DOSSER, subs, (vagrants'). — One
who frequents a DOSS HOUSED. z>.).
'APPY-DOSSERS, subs. (vag-
rants').— Houseless vagrants who
creep in, sleep on stairs, in pas-
sages, and in empty cellars.
1880. G. R. SIMS, How the Poor
Live, p. 43. A 'APPY DOSSER can make
himself comfortable anywhere. I heard^of
one who used to crawl into the dust-bin,
and pull the lid down.
1883. Referee, 15 July, p. 7, col. 2.
The Lazaruses of to-day don't lie exactly
at Dives's front door— the police are too
active to allow such HAPPY DOSSING as that.
THE DOSSER, subs. — The father
of a family.
DOSS-HOUSE or DOSSING-CRIB or
KEN, suds, (vagrants'). — A com-
mon lodging-house. [From DOSS,
to sleep + CRIB, or KEN, a place
of abode.] Fr., un bastengtte«D&
un garno. English variants :
LlBKEN, TWO-PENNY-ROPE, PAD-
DING-KEN, and KIDDEN (all of
which see}. Doss - MONEY = the
price of a night's lodging.
1838. Comic A Imanack, April. The
hulks is now my bowsing-crib, the hold my
DOSSING-KEN.
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 150. When
their funds are insufficient to defray the
charge of a bed, or a part of one, at a
country DOSSING - CRIB (his lodging •
house).
1885. Daily Telegraph, 22 August, p.
2. col. i. Her's is no common DOSSING-
CRIB, with a squalid kitchen, common to all
comers.
1889. Globe, 29 Aug., p. 2, col. 2.
Various other smart people who are at pre-
sent residing in the DOSS-HOUSES of
London.
1890. Speaker, 22 Feb., p. 211, col. i.
Equally bad DOSS-HOUSES exist in Not-
ting Hill and near Drury Lane.
DOSSY, adj. (common). — Elegant,
'SPIFF' (.v.).
DOT, subs. (old). — A ribbon. DOT-
DRAG = a watch ribbon.
1821. D. HAGGART, Life, Glossary,
p. 171, s.v.
DOT-AN D-CARRY-, Or GO-ON E, subs.
phr. (common). — I. Properly,
a man with a wooden leg; by
implication, a HOPPING - GILES
or LIMPING JESUS (q.v.). Fr.,
un (or une) banban. Cf., verbal
sense.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongvc,
s.v.
Do tell.
312
Double.
1822. SCOTT, The Fortunes of Nigel,
ch. v. That was his father . . . You old
dotard. DOT-AND-CARRY-ONE that you
are.
1837. BARHAM, I
(Lay of S. Nicholas).
oldsby Legends
ow he rose with
the sun, limping DOT AND GO ONE.
1841. LEMAN REDE, Sixteen String
Jack, Act L, Sc. 4. Kit. Of all the
rummy chaps I ever did see, thatDOT-AND-
CARRY-ONE-OF-old poetry is the queerest ;
he's as green as a babby, and as deep as a
wooden spoon.
2. (old). — A writing-master or
teacher of arithmetic. [GROSE,
1785.]
F^ (old).— To 'hirple'; es-
pecially applied to a person
with one leg shorter than the
other, or, ' with an uneven keel. '
Do TELL ! intj. (American). — A
useful interjection, for listeners
who feel that some remark is
expected; equivalent to the English
Really ? and Indeed ? A similar
phrase in the South is the old
English, You don't say so ? which
a Yankee will vary by, I want
to know ! Do TELL is also used
with inexperienced Munchausens
who by its means may often be
lured to repeat themselves.
1824. R. B. PEAKE, Americans
Abroad, Act I., Sc. ii. Mrs. L. But
when they order nothing at all — Dou\
What then, DU PRAY TELL ?
1854. N. andQ., i S., x.,p. 84, R. Does
Jeremiur behave well now ? *$". No, he's
very ugly. He tried to burn the barn. R.
DO TELL !
1871. DE VERB, Americanisms, p.
598 s.v.
DOTS, subs. (American journalist). —
I. Items of news.
2. (popular). — Money. For
synonyms, see ACTUAL and GILT.
D o T T E R , subs, (common). — A
reporter ; penny-a-liner. Cf.t
DOTS, sense I.
DOTTLE, subs, (common). — The
same as DODDER (q.v.).
1885. JOHN COLEMAN, in Longin.
Mag., VII., 69. During the performance
of ' It's Never Too Late to Mend,' some
gentleman of the proletariat, in knocking
out the burning DOTTLE of his pipe, suc-
ceeded in setting the gallery on fire.
DOTTY, adj. and adv. (common). —
i. Feeble; dizzy; idiotic; e.%. ,
DOTTY IN THE CRUMPET = weak
inTTiehead ; DOTTY IN THE PINS
= unsteady on the legs. [TOTTY
is given in Cole's Eng. Diet.
(1724) = dizzy, but cf., DOTISH
and DOTAGE.] For synonyms,
see APARTMENTS, BALMY, and
Cf.t CABBAGE-HEAD.
1870. Sportsman, 9 April. Although
he begins to go a little stiff in his limbs and
DOTTY on his feet he enjoys good health.
1884. Daily Telegraph, 9 April, p. 2,
col. 6. His bad leg grows worse . . and,
as usual, he [a race-horse] pulled up in a
DOTTY condition.
1889. Ally Slopers Half Holiday,
3TAug., p. 242, col. 3. As poor Doody on
his knees had dropt In front of lovely
lottie, And the fatal question just had
pop't. He really look'd quite DOTTY.
Subs, (common). — The fancy
man of prostitutes of the lowest
type.
DOUBITE, subs. (old). — A street.
1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, or
Rogue's Lexion, s.v.
DOUBLE, su&s. (colloquial). — i. A
trick.
2. (theatrical). — An actor play-
ing two parts in the same piece ;
used also as a verb.
1825. EGAN, Life of an Actor, ' The
Country Manager. ' I make no reserve for
myself, like all other managers ; indeed, I
am to DOUBLE any character, and only
anxious to make the most of every little
bit.
3. (thieves'). — See quot.
Double-back.
3'3
Double-event.
1879. J. W. HORSLEY, in Macm.
g:, xl., 501. I piped a slavey (servant)
come out of a chat (house), so when she had
got a little way up the DOUBLE (turning) I
pratted (went) in the house.
4. (printers'). — Repetition of a
word or sentence.
[DOUBLE, adj. and adv., is also used as
an intensitive in many obscene or offensive
connotations : e.g., DOUBLE-ARSED = large
in the posteriors; DOUBLE-DUGGS (and
DOUBLE - DUGGED or DiDDiEo) = heavy
breasted ; DOUBLE-GUTS (and DOUBLE -
GUTTEo)=excessively corpulent ; DOUBLE-
CUNTED = stretched beyond service;
DOUBLE- HOCKED = abnormally thick
ankled ; DOUBLE-SHUNG = extravagantly
large in the genitals ; DOUBLE-MOUTHED=
mouth-almighty (<?.v.) ', and so forth.]
TO PUT THE DOUBLE ON,
verb. phr. (colloquial). — To
circumvent.
TO TIP or GIVE THE DOUBLE,
verb. phr. (common). — To run or
slip away openly or unperceived ;
to double as a hare ; formerly
to escape one's creditors. Also
to TIP ONE THE DUBLIN PACKET.
For synonyms, see AMPUTATE
and SKEDADDLE.
1781. G. PARKER, View of Society,
I., 174, s.v.
1860. The Druid, 'Post and Pad-
dock.' Alas ! my innocent rural police,
Your fondest hopes were a bubble ; Your
attempts to prevent a breach of the peace,
Your race o'er the Derbyshire stubble ;
You must freely own that you felt like
geese, When Sam Rogers GAVE YOU THE
DOUBLE.
1870.^ Daily News, 26 May. 'The
Metropolitan Police." The policeman must
do his best to ' keep square ' with the ser-
geant who looks after him and his beats,
who can be down upon him at any moment
and DOUBLE UPON HIM three or four times
a-night.
1884. JHAWLEY SMART, Post to
Finish, ch. i. Old Gregson would never
PUT THE DOUBLE UPON US. No, it's
right enough, you may depend upon it.
DOUBLE- BACK, verb. phr. — (collo-
quial).— To go back upon one-
self; an action ; an opinion.
DOUBLE-BARREL, subs, (popular). —
A field or opera glass.
1890. H. D. TRAILL, Saturday
Songs, p. 61. Intently as the masher plies
O'er all the stage his DOUBLE-BARREL
That Eightyer mute had fixed his eyes
Upon his honoured guest's apparel.
DOUBLE-BARRELLED,^', (venery).
— Said of a harlot working both
before and behind.
DOUBLE - BOTTOMED, adj. (collo-
quial). — Insincere ; saying one
thing and meaning another.
DOUBLE-BREASTED FEET, subs. phr.
(common). — Club feet. Also
DOUBLE BREASTERS.
DOUBLE-CROSSOI- DOUBLE-DOUBLE,
subs, (sporting). — Winning or
doing one's best to win after
engaging to lose or 'MIKE'; (q.v.}.
1887. Referee, 21 Aug., i, 3. When
the pair raced before, Teemer declared, and
Hanlan did not deny, that a DOUBLE CROSS
was brought off. Teemer promised to sell
the match, and finished by selling those
who calculated on his losing.
DOUBLE- DISTILLED, adj. (collo-
quial). — Superlative : e.g., ' a
double - distilled whopper ' = a
tremendous lie.
DOUBLE-DUTCH, adj. (colloquial).
— Unintelligible speech ; jargon ;
gibberish. * It was all DOUBLE-
DUTCH to me' = l didn't under-
stand a word of it.
DOUBLE- EVENT, subs, (sporting).
— i. Backing a horse for two
races.
1883. GRENVILLE MURRAY, People I
Have Met, p. 155. His lordship, who had
won largely on a DOUBLE EVENT.
2. (venery). — Gonorrhoea and
syphillis at once. Said also of
simultaneous defloration and im-
pregnation..
Double-fain.
3 1 4 Double- Tongued.
DOUBLE- FINN, subs, (common). —
A £10 note.— [See FINN.]
1879. J.W.HORSLEY, \nMacm. Mag.,
xl., 505. Yes, there it was, fifty quid in
DOUBLE FINNS (;£lO notes).
DOUBLE-HEADER, sttbs. (common).
— A false coin with a head on the
obverse and reverse, made by
soldering two split coins. Cf.,
COVER and HEADING 'EM.
1887. Walfords Antiquarian, p.
252. A DOUBLE-HEADER is the usual
property of the gutter sharper.
DOUBLE-JUGGS, subs. (old). — The
posteriors (Burton). For syno-
nyms, see BLIND CHEEKS, BUM,
and MONOCULAR EYEGLASS.
DOUBLE-LINES, subs, (nautical). —
Ship casualties. So called from
the manner of entering at Lloyd's.
DOUBLER, subs, (pugilistic). — A
blow in the side or stomach,
causing a man to bend from pain
or lack of wind. Cf., DOUBLE
UP, sense I. For synonyms, see
DIG.
1821. The Fancy, vol. I., p. 255. In
the fourth round he came in all abroad,
and got a DOUBLER in the bread-basket,
which spoiled him for the remainder of the
fight.
DOUBLE-RIBBED, adj. fhr. (com-
mon). — Pregnant. For syn-
onyms, see LUMPY.
DOUBLE-SHOTTED, adj. (colloquial.
— Said of a whiskey (or brandy)
and soda, containing twice the
normal quantity of alcohol.
DOUBLE-SHUFFLE, subs, (common).
I. A hornpipe step in which each
foot is shuffled twice in succes-
sion, the more rapidly and
neatly the better.
1835. DICKENS, Sketches by Boz, p.
47. The waterman ... is dancing the
DOUBLE SHUFFLE, in front of the pump, to
keep his feet warm.
1851-61. H. -MAYHEYV, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. i., p. 542. I used
to talk to him and whistle. I can
just whistle . . . and to dance him the
DOUBLE-SHUFFLE.
1871. Echo, ii Dec., 'Sunday among
the Silk Weavers.' The clumsy high low
with which they execute scientific 'elephant
dances' and DOUBLE-SHUFFLES.
2. siibs. (common). — A trick
or fakement.
DOUBLE-SLANG. — See SLANGS.
DOUBLE-SUCKER, sttbs. (venery).
— A term descriptive of an ab-
normal development of the tissues
"of the labia majora.
DOUBLET, subs, (thieves'). — A
doctored diamond or other pre-
cious stone. Cf., TRIPLET.
[The quots. show derivation.]
1706. E. COLES, Eng. Diet. DOUB-
LET, a precious stone of two pieces joyned.
1822. SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel,
ch. xxxi. Your een are sharp enough to
look after gowd and silver, gems, rubies,
and the like of that . . . Look at them —
they are a'right and tight, sound and
round, not a DOUBLET crept in amongst
them.
1877. Five Years Penal Servitude,
ch. iv., p. 273. Most jewellers and pawn-
brokers are well acquainted with what are
called DOUBLETS. These are rubies or
emeralds made of two pieces. The face is
a real ruby, emerald, or sapphire, as the
case may be, and this is backed up by a
piece of coloured glass.
DOUBLE-THUMPER, subs, (com-
mon).— A prodigious lie.
DOUBLE-TONGUED, adj. (collo-
quial). — Mendacious ; given to
change opinions in changing
company.
Double-tongued Squib. 3J5
Dowlas.
DOUBLE-TONGUED SQUIB, siibs.phr.
(common). — A double-barrelled
gun. For synonyms, see SQUIB.
1864. G. W. REYNOLDS, Pickwick
Abroad. A DOUBLE-TONGUED SQUIB to
keep in awe The chaps that flout at me.
DOUBLE-UP, verb (pugilistic). — I.
To punish. Also to be collapsed.
C/., DOUBLER.
1819. MOORE, Tcm Crib's Memorial,
p. 20. DOUBLED him UP, like a bag of old
duds.
1827. REYNOLDS ('Peter Corcoran')
The Fancy, note on p. 89. Randall
DOUBLES UP an opponent, as a friend
lately declared, as easily as [though he
were picking a flower or pinching a girl's
cheek.
1830. S. WARREN, Diary of a Late
Physician, ch. xii. Accompanied by a
tremendous DOUBLING UP body-blow, as
in an instant brought him senseless to the
ground.
1845. Punch, vol. IX., p. 163. Ben's
reference to the Premier's friend, Canning,
completely DOUBLED him UP.
1849. THACKERAY, Dr. Birch, p. 6.
I reflect as I go up and set him a sum,
that he [Champion] could whop me in two
minutes, DOUBLE UP Prince and the other
assistant and pitch the Doctor out of the
window.
1866. London Miscellany, 5 May,
p. 202. DOUBLED you UP, I mean, sir.
Smashed you.
2. (common). — To pair off, to
chum with.
1885. W. WESTALL, Larry Lohen-
grin, ch. iii. He . . . promised the
steward a handsome tip if nobody were
DOUBLED UP with him, — i.e., if no other
person were put into the same cabin.
DOUGH, subs, (public schools') —
Pudding.
DOUGH-BAKED, adj. phr. (collo-
quial). — Deficient in intellect.
U. S. A. = Easily moulded :
said of politicians. For syno-
nyms, see APARTMENTS.
1*575. WYCHERLEY, Country Wife,
IV., iv. in wks. (1713), 212. These
DOW-BAKED, sensless, indocile animals,
DOUGHY, stibs. (common). — A
baker. — See BURNCRUST, and for
synonyms, MASTER OF THE
ROLLS.
DOUSE. — See DOWSE.
DOVER, subs, (hotel). — A made
dish ; hash ; rechauffe.
DOVERS, subs. (Stock Exchange).
— South Eastern Railway
Ordinary Stock. [From one of
the termini on the line.]
DOVES, subs. (University). —
Members of St. Catharine's Col-
lege, Cambridge. — See quot.
Obsolete.
1888. C. WHIBLEY, Three Centuries
of Cambridge Wit, p. xxix. It is said
that the members of St. Catharine's Hall
were first of all called ' Puritans,' from the
derivation of the name of their patroness from
KaBaipttv. The 'dove' being the emblem
of purity, to change a name from 'Puritans*
to DOVES was but one short step.
SOILED - DOVES, subs, (com-
mon). — High-class prostitutes.
For synonyms, see BARRACK-
HACK and TART.
DOVE-TART, subs, (colloquial). — A
pigeon pie. (DOO-TAIRT is ex-
cellent Scots for the same thing. )
Cf. , SNAKE TART = eel pie.
1857. REV. E. BRADLEY ('Cuthbert
Bede'), Verdant deen, pt. II., ch. vii.
Why, a DOVE TART is what mortals call a
pigeon-pie.
DOWLAS, subs, (common). — A
draper. [From DOWLAS, now a
kind of towelling, but mentioned
by Shakspeare (i Henry IV., III.,
iii., 1597) as a material for shirts.
Dowling.
316
Down.
Popularised as a sobriquet by Col-
man's Daniel Dowlas in The Heir
at Law. — See DICKEY DIAPER,
and r/!, DRIPPING = cook; GRINDO
= miller ; GALLIPOT = chemist ;
LINT-SCRAPE R = surgeon, (q.v.\
DOWLING, subs, (public school). —
See quot.
1871. Newspaper Report, 1 8 Feb., of
of a charge of assault against the head boy
of Shrewsbury School. Mr. Chandler
addressed the Bench for the defence. He
said the game of DOWLING was practised
at Eton, Harrow, Rugby, Westminster
and other large schools, etc.
1877. Everyday Life in our Public
Schools. There are four or five compulsory
games a week (football) known as DOWLINGS
DOWN, subs, (thieves'). — i. Sus-
picion ; alarm ; adiversion. THERE
IS NO DOWN = All is quiet, it is
safe to go on.
1821. D. H AGO ART, Life, Glossary,
p. 171. DOWN, alarm; rose the DOWN,
gave the alarm.
2. (American). — Small beer.
UP = bottled ale.
Adv. (colloquial).— I . Dispirited ;
hard-up ; in disgrace. Found in
various combinations : e.g., DOWN
IN THE MOUTH, or DUMPS =
dejected ; DOWN ON ONE'S LUCK
= reduced in circumstances ;
DOWN AT HEEL = shabby ; DOWN
ON ONE'S BACK-SEAM = Out of
luck ; DOWN TO BED-ROCK (Ameri-
can) = penniless, etc., etc.
1608-11. BISHOP HALL, Epistles, i.,
6. The Roman orator was DOWN IN THE
MOUTH; finding himself thus cheated by the
money-changer.
1693. CONGREVE, Old Batchelor,
Activ., Sc. 9. Sir J.Witt. Now am I
slap-dash DOWN IN THE MOUTH, and have
not one word to say !
1751. SMOLLETT, Peregrine Pickle,
ch. xlix. He .... told the physician
that he was like the root of the tongue, as
being cursedly DOWN IN THE MOUTH.
1836. C. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers,
p. 6, (ed. 1857). I see — never ruined —
accidents will happen — best regulated
families — never say die — DOWN UPON YOUR
LUCK — pull him up.
1840. Comic Almanack, p. 208.
Let's not be DOWN UPON OUR LUCK Nor
out of heart at our condition.
1846. THACKERAY, Vanity Fair,
vol. II., ch. xxix. They say, that when
Mrs. Crawley was particularly DOWN ON
HER LUCK, she gave concerts and lessons
in music here and there.
1851. H. MAYHEW, Lon. Lab. and
Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 58. If the
hucksters know that the person calling the
raffle is DOWN, and that it is necessity
that has made him call it, they will not
allow the property put up to be thrown
for.
1861. MARIAN EVANS (G. Eliot),
Silas Marner, ch. viii. Well, here's my
turning, said Bryce, not surprised to per-
ceive that Godfrey was rather DOWN ;
so I'll bid you good-day.
1864. EDMUND YATES, Broken to
Harness, ch. x. What won't do ? asked
Prescott, with flaming face, Why, this
Kate Mellon business, Jim. It's on hot
and strong, I know. You've been DOWN
IN THE MOUTH all the time she was away.
1880. A. TROLLOPE, The Duke's
Children, ch. xlvii. I'm sorry you're so
DOWN IN THE MOUTH. Why don't you
try again ?
1880. JAS. GREENWOOD, Veteran of
Vauxhall'm 'Odd People in Odd Places,'
p. 40. Then I got DOWN AT HKEL, as the
saying is ; and when a man is reduced to
one bare suit of black, and that one so
shaky with long wear that it wants as
tender handling as an invalid, he hasn't
got much of a chance to get on well as a
waiter.
2. (old). — Acquainted with ;
'FLY' (q.v.}; UP TO (q-v.}. Also
in combination : DOWN TO, DOWN
ON, and DOWN AS A HAMMER.
1610. JONSON, Alchemist, IV., iv.
Thou art so DOWN UPON the least disaster !
How would'st thou ha' done, if I had not
help't thee out ?
1825. The English Spy, vi., p. 162.
Dick's a trump, and no telegraph— up to
every frisk, and DOWN TO every move of
the domini, thoroughbred and no want of
courage.
Down.
317
Doivner.
1839. W. H. AlNSWOKTH,/aat.?&£-
pard, p. 138, [ed. 1840.] Awake ! to be
sure I am, my flash cove, replied Shep-
pard, I'm DOWN AS A HAMMER.
1850. F. E. SMEDLEY, Frank Fair-
leigh, ch. iv. You're about right there,
Mr. Lawless, you're DOWN TO every move,
I see, as usual.
1865. G. F. -BERKELEY, Life, etc.,
II., 103. Crib. I said ..... I'm DOWN
ON it all ; the monkey never bit your dog.
(old). — Hang-dog. C/.t
'v., sense I.
adv
1879. JAS. PAYN, High Spirits (Num-
ber Forty-seven). ' Well, he was rather a
DOWN-looking cove. ' Hang-dog ?' said I.
' Well, yes, to be frank, hang-dog.'
4. Verb (common). — To put
on one's back : whether by force
or by persuasion : e.g., TO DOWN
A WOMAN = to lay her out for
copulation. — See also quot.
1874. HENLEY, Unpublished Ballad.
Then I DOWNS my bleedin' Judy, And I
puts a new head on her.
To BE DOWN A PIT, verb. phr.
(theatrical).— To be very much
' taken ' with a part.
TO BE, Or COME DOWN UPON
ONE, verb. phr. (colloquial). — To
be-rate ; to attack ; to oppose.
Sometimes with a tag : e.g., LIKE
A THOUSAND, Or A LOAD, OF
BRICKS ; LIKEONE O'CLOCK ; LIKE
A TOM-TIT ON A HORSE-TURD,
etc.
1815. SCOTT, Guy Manneiing, ch.
xxviii. I think we should BE DOWN
UPON the fellow one of these darkmans,
and let him get it well.
1823. MONCRIEFF, Tom and Jerry
(Dicks' ed., 1889), p. 6. Prime. From the
cut of the gentleman's clothes, I presume
he's lately come from the Esquimaux
Islands. Tom. Ha! ha! very good,
Primefit ; I say, Jerry— you see he's DOWN
UPON you.
1864. London Review, 28 May.
There are no loungers in this mortal sphere
who so nicely judge a horse's points, or
who are so inexorably DOWN UPON any
blemish as this careless fringe of observers
upon those two fashionable promenades.
1877. Five Years Penal Servitude,
ch. iii., p. 167. Let him only find out a
man in some artful little game, and he
would BE DOWN ON him and hunt his
life out almost.
To BE DOWN PIN, verb. phr.
(skittle alley). — To be out of sorts,
or despondent. Cf. , DOWN, adv. ,
TO DROP DOWN TO ONE, verb.
phr. (old). — To discover one's
character or designs.
TO PUT A DOWN UPON ONE,
verb. phr. (old). — To peach so as
to cause detection or failure.
TO PUT ONE DOWN TO [A
THING], verb. phr. (old). — To
apprize, elucidate, or explain ; to
coach or prime ; to ' let one into
the know.
TO TAKE DOWN A PEG.— See
PEG.
DOWNED, ppl. adj. (common). —
Tricked ; beaten ; ' sat upon. '
[Cf., DOWN, adv., sense i.]
DOWNER, subs. (old). — i. A six-
pence. In U.S.A., a five-cent,
piece. \_Cf., DEANER ((/.v.) ;
now corrupted into TANNER
(q.v.).] For synonyms, see
BENDER.
1857. SNOWDEN, Mag, Assistant, 3rd
ed., p. 444. Sixpence, DOWNER, also sprat.
1861. WHYTE MELVILLE, Good for
Nothing, ch. vi. It's not the first DOWNER
I've had by a good many; and if it was not
for leaving you I shouldn't care so much
about it !
1885. Hoiisehold Words, 20 June, p.
155. Two more names for a sixpence are a
DOWNER and a 'tanner.'
Down-hills.
318
Downy.
2. (pugilistic). — A knock-down
blow. Cf., BENDER, DOUBLER,
and DIG, for synonyms.
1819. MOORE, Tom Ciib's Mem.
Cong:, p. 25. In the twelfth and last round
Sandy fetch'd him a DOWNER.
DOWN- HILLS, suds, (old).— Dice
cogged to run on the low numbers.
[1785, GROSE.]
DOWNS, subs, (thieves').— Tothill
Fields Prison. For analagous
terms, see CAGE.
1856. H. MAYHEW, Great World of
London, p. 82, note, s.v.
1606. JOHN DAY, lie of Guls, Act
v., p. 98. For, saies my mother, a thinge
once wel done is twice done : and I am in
her mind for that, VP AND DOWNE.
1878. M. E. BRADDON, Cloven Foot,
ch. xlv. Some sea coast city in South
America would suit me DOWN TO THE
GROUND.
1883. Echo, 6 Aug., p. 4, col. i. A
post which would suit the noble lord . . .
DOWN TO THE GROUND.
1889. JOHN STRANGE WINTER,
That Imp, p. 3. A name that suited him
well— DOWN TO THE GROUND, the officers
of the Royal Horse said.
DOWN UPON THE NAIL, — See
NAIL.
DOWNSTAIRS, subs, (old).— Hell.
1837. BARHAM, /. L. (Brothers of
Btrchington.) Now if here such affairs Get
wind unawares, They are bruited about,
doubtless much more DOWNSTAIRS,
Where Old Nick has a register-office they
say, With commissioners quite of such
matters au fait.
DOWN TH E ROAD, abj. and adv. phr.
(common). — Vulgarly showy ;
'flash.'
1859. SALA, Tw. Round the Clock,
4 p.m., par. 9. A knot of medical students,
who should properly, I take it. in this sport-
ing locality, have a racing and DOWN-THE-
ROAD look, but who, on the contrary, have
the garb and demeanour of ordinary
gentlemen.
DOWN TO DANDY. — See UP TO
DICK.
DOWN TO THE GROUND, adv. phr.
(old). — Entirely ; thoroughly ;
to the last degree. Formerly, UP
AND DOWN. Cf., UP TO THE
KNOCKER or THE NINES, UP TO
THE HANDLE, UP TO DICK, etc.
[Literally, from top to bottom.]
1542. UDAL'S, Erasmus's Apophth.,
p. 324 [ed. 1877]. He [Phocion] was euen
Socrates VP AND DOWNE in this pointe and
behalfe, that no man euer sawe hym either
laughe or weepe.
DOWNY, subs, (common). A bed.
Cf., DOWNY FLEA PASTURE.
1857. A. TROLLOPE, Three Clerks,
ch. ix. I've a deal to do before I get to
my downy. ... Good night, Mr. Scott.
Adj. (common). — Artful ;
KNOWING (q.v., for synonyms).
[Cf., DOWN, adv., sense 2, of
which DOWNY is a derivative.]
1823. W. T. MONCRIEFF, Tom and
Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 3. Bob. You're a
DOWNEY von — you'll not give a chance
avay if you knows it.
1842. Punch, vol. II., p. 217, c. 2.
1849. DICKENS, David Copperfield,
ch. xxii., p. 198. Up to mischief, I'll be
bound. Oh, you're a DOWNY fellow.
1849. THACKERAY, Pendennis, ch. x.
I'm not clever, p'r'aps, but I am rather
DOWNY ; and partial friends say I know
what's o'clock tolerably well.
1860. Punch, vol. XXXVIII.,p. 230.
You never come across A cove more
DOWNIER^ I'll be bound, But you knows
that 'ere 'oss.
1869. H. J. BYRON, Not Such a Fool
as He Looks [French's acting ed.], p. 12.
.... Sharp old skinflint, DOWNY old
robber as he is, he's under Jane Mould's
thumb.
TO DO THE DOWNY. — See DO.
Downy Bit.
319
Doivse.
DOWNY BIT, subs. phr. (venery). —
A half-fledged girl.
DOWNY COVE, (or BIRD, or in //.,
THE DOWNIES), subs. phr. (com-
mon).— A clever rogue.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS.— Mizzler;
leary bloke or cove ; sly dog ; old
dog ; nipper ; file ; Greek ; one
that knows what's o'clock ; one
who knows the ropes, or his
way about ; don ; dodger ;
dab ; doll's - eye - weaver ; dam-
macker ; shaver ; dagen ; chicka-
leary-cove ; ikey bloke ; artful
member; one that is up to the
time of day ; fly cove ; one that's
in the know ; one that has his eye-
teeth skinned, or that has cut his
wisdoms.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. — Ungas-
pard( popular); un/buinard(pop. :
fouiner=\.o slink off); un ficellier
(popular) ; etre cfaffilt (thieves')
= tobe on the track or scent); un
arcasien (thieves': from arcane =
a secret) ; un pante desargote
(thieves' : one 'fly to the time
of day ' ) ; un mariolle (thieves'
= English FILE [q.v. ,]) ; un lapin
(popular) ; un ecopeur (pop. : a
safe hand) ; un emberlificoteur
(O.F., popular).
GERMAN SYNONYMS. Barje
or Borje (from the Hebrew birjah:
also = a fop) ; Bochur^ Backer,
or Bocher (from Hebrew bochur :
also an official who understands
thieves' lingo) ; Chochom, Cho-
chem, or Chochemer (more fre-
quently spelled with ' K ' : from
Hebrew chochom} ; Low on (also =
silver, shining).
SPANISH SYNONYMS. — Can-
donguero (applied to one who is
mischievous as well as cunning) ;
zarapeto ; zorrastron ; perro viejo ;
estuche (also = a pair of scissors) ;
guitarron (also = a large guitar) ;
peril Ian ; piia (also = a sharp
point : es buena pua = he is a
keen blade) ; carlancon ; es tin
buen sastre ( = he is a sly dog or
cunning blade. Sastre = tailor) ;
soga ; alpargatilla ; sobon or
sobonazo (also = a lazy fellow).
PORTUGUESE SYNONYM. —
Tinente.
1821. EGAN, Tom and Jerry (ed.
1890), p. 95. Mr. Mace had long been
christened by the DOWNIES, the ' dashing
covey.'
1841. LEMAN REDE, Sixtcen-String
Jack, ii., 4. Tom Bullock, the DOWNIEST
COVE, the leary one that never goes to
sleep.
1877. GREENWOOD, Dick Temple,
DowNY-looking COVE, the fair 'un ; a mug
like that ought to be worth a fortune to
him.
DOWNY FLEA-PASTURE, siibs. phr.
(common). — A bed. For syno-
nyms, see BUG WALK and KIP.
DOWRY, subs, (common). — A lot ; a
great deal ; DOWRY of parny =
lot of rain or water.
DOWSE or DOUSE, verb (old). — i.
A verb of action. — See quots.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulgar Tongue.
DOWSE your dog vane = take the cockade
out of your hat. DOWSE the glim = put
out the candle. DOWSE on the chops =a
blow in the face.
1815. SCOTT, Guy Mannering.
DOWSE the glim !
1860. Punch, vol. XXXVIII., p.
252. ' The Death and Burial of poor little
Bill." And who'll put on mourning ' Not
we,' said the House ' The Reform flag
we'll DOUSE, But we won't put on mourn-
ing.'
1863. C. READE, Hard Cask, I., 212.
At nine p.m., all the lights were ordered
out. Mrs. Beresford had brought a novel
on board and refused to comply ; . . . The
master-at-arms, finding he had no chance
in argument, DOUSED THE GLIM — pitiable
resource of a weak disputant — then basely
fled the rhetorical consequences.
Dout.
320
Drag.
Dour, verb (provincial). — Literally
= todoout ; as DUP (?.#.) — to do
up, and DON = to do on. Cf.,
Hamlet, iv. Then up he rose
and DONNED his clothes, And
DUPPED the chamber door.
1874. Mrs. H. WOOD, Johnny Lud-
low, i S., No. VIII., p. 131. The guard
seemed not to hear it, so lost was he in
astonishment at there being no light. Why,
what can have DOUTED it ? he cried aloud.
Doxo LOGY- WORKS, subs, (common).
— A church or chapel. For
synonyms, see GOSPEL MILL.
DOXY, subs, (old).— A mistress;
a prostitute ; occasionally, a jade,
a girl, even a wife. In West cf
England, DOXY = a baby. For
synonyms, see BARRACK-HACK
and TART.
1567. HARMAN, Caveat (1814), p. 14.
And thither repayre at accustomed tymes,
their harlotes which they terme mortes and
DOXES.
1592. GREENE, Quip, in wks., xi.,
283. The Pedler as bad or rather worse,
walketh the country with his DOCKSEY at
the least.
1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark all,
p. i4(H. Club's Repr., 1874). You decypher
and point out a poore Rogue, or a DOXIE
that steale and rob hedges of a few ragged
clothes.
1611. CHAPMAN, May-Day, Act IV.,
p. 299 {Plays, 1874). He called me . . .
pandar, and DOXY, and the vilest nick-
names.
1617. C. SHADWELL, Fair Quaker oj
Deal, Act v. Thou couldst not have
picked out a wife so fit for thee, out of
a whole regiment of DOXIES.
1694. DUNTON, Ladies Diet. Pros-
titute DOXIES are neither wives, maids,
nor widows ; they will for good victuals, or
for a very small piece of money, prostitute
their bodies, and then protest they never
did any such thing before, that it was pure
necessity that now compell'd them to do
what they have done, and the like ;
whereas the jades will prove common
hacknies upon every slight occasion.
1727. JOHN GAY, Beggars Opera,
Act III., Sc. 3. Finale. Thus I stand
like the Turk, with his DOXIES around,
From all sides their glances his passion
confound.
1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (sth
ed.). DOXY (s.) a she-beggar . . . the
female companion of a foot-soldier
travelling tinker, etc.
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 231. List of
patterers' words. DOXY — a wife.
DOZING-CRIB, subs, (old).— A bed.
For synonyms, see BUG WALK
and KIP.
D.Q., ON THE D.Q., phr.
(American). — On the dead quiet.
Cf., STRICT Q.T., etc.
DRAB, subs, (common). — i. Poison ;
also medicine. [ From the
gypsey.] Also used as a verb.
1851. G. BORROW, Lavengro, ch. Ixxi.,
p. 226 (1888). At him, juggal [a dog], at
him ; he wished to poison, to DRAB you.
2. (colloquial). — A strumpet.
Also DRABBING = strumming.
DRAB BUT, verb (provincial). — A
vague and gentle form of im-
precation. DRABBUT YOUR BACK
= Confound you.
DRAFT ON ALDGATE PUMP, sttbs.
(old). — A fictitious banknote or
fraudulent bill. See N. and Q. ,
7 S., i., 387-493.
17(?). FIELDING, Essay on Character
oj Men, in wks., p. 647, ed. 1840 (b. 1754).
This is such another instance of generosity
as his who relieves his friend in distress by
a DRAUGHT ON ALDGATE PUMP. [A foot-
note says] A mercantile phrase for a
bad note.
1828. JON BEE, Picture of London,
p. 187. Why, he might as well have
accosted ALDGATE-PUMP with a BILL for
payment.
DRAG, subs, (old : now recognised).
— I. A cart of any kind ; now
usually applied to a four-horse
coacli.
Drag.
321
Dragon.
1819. MOORE, Tom Crib's Me-
morial, p. ii. While Eld — n, long doubt-
ing between a grey nag And a -white one
to mount, took his stand in a DRAG.
1820. REYNOLDS (' Peter Corcoran ')•
Glossary at end of The Fancy, s.v.
1839. LEVER, Harry Lorrequer, ch.
x. He turned out what he calls a four-
in-hand DRAG which dragged nine hundred
pounds out of my pocket.
1855. THACKERAY, Neivcomes, ch.
xxviii. Lord Kew's DRAG took the young
men to London ; his lordship driving, and
the servants sitting inside.
2. (old). — A chain.
1821. D. HAGGART, Life, Glossary,
p. 171, s.v.
3. (old). — A street or road ;
BACK-DRAG = a back street.
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 232. He
' patters ' very little in a main DRAG (public
street).
4. (thieves'). — Three months'
imprisonment ; also THREE
MOON. For synonyms, see DOSE.
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London_Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. i., p.
times they are detected, and
(three months in prison).
1883. HORSLEY, Jottings from fail.
But neither Snuffy (Reeves, the identifier),
nor Mac (Macintyre) knew me, so I got a
DRAG and was sent to the Steel.
1884. GREENWOOD, Sfven Years'
Penal Servitude. Well, sir, as I was
saying, I only got a DRAG for that last job.
Oh, I beg pardon, a DRAG means three
months. Three weeks is called a DRAG,
too — a cadger's DRAG.
5. (general). — Feminine attire
worn by men. To GO ON, or
FLASH THE DRAG = to wear
women's attire for immoral pur-
poses.
1870. Reynolds, 29 May, ' Police
Proceedings.' He afterwards said, that
instead of having a musical party he
thought he would make it a little fancy
dress affair, and said, We shall come in
DRAG, which means men wearing women's
costumes.
233- Some-
get a DRAG
1870. London Figaro, 23 June.
There is a good deal about Tom and Jerry
which our superior refinement might term
low — not quite so low though, as going
about in DRAG or consorting with creatures
who do.
6. (common). — A lure ; trick ;
stratagem.
7. (hunting). — A fox prepared
with herring or aniseed and
brought to covert in a bag.
1869. W. BRADWOOD, The O.V.H.,
ch. v. He subscribed to the DRAG at
Oxford, though his first season had taught
him to seek a less emulous scene of horse-
manship.
1887. Caszetfs Mag-., Dec., p. 27.
He was thrown from his horse, near Lon-
don, they say, huntin' with a DRAG.
8. (old). — See DRAGGING.
DONE FOR A DRAG, phr. (old).
— Convicted of DRAGGING (q.v.).
Cf., DRAG = term of imprison-
ment.
TO PUT ON THE DRAG, verb.
phr. (colloquial). — To ease off or
go slow ; also to put on pressure.
DRAG-COVE, subs. (old). — A carter
or driver of a DRAG (q.v., sense i).
DRAGGING, verb. subs. (old). — Rob-
bing vehicles.
DRAG- LAY, subs. (old) — The
practice of robbing vehicles.
[GROSE, 1785.]
DRAGON, subs, (common). — i. A
sovereign. [From the device.]
For synonyms, see CANARY.
1827. MAGINN, Translation of
Vidocq. And collar his DRAGONS clear
away.
1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, or
Rogue's Lexicon, s.v.
2. (venery). — A wanton.
ST. GEORGE (q.v.).
Cf.t
21
Dragsman.
322
Draw.
d. 1625. FLETCHER, How our St.
George's will be stride the DRAGONS ! The
red and ramping DRAGONS!
TO WATER THE DRAGON, verb,
phr. (common). — To urinate ;
' pump ship ; ' ' rack off,'
DRAGSMAN. — A coachman ; also a
DRAG-SNEAK (y.v.).
1832. EGAN, Book of Sports, p. 2.
The Swell DRAGSMAN or in plain English
a well-dressed stage coachman.
1851. H. MAYHEW, Lon. Lab. and
Lon. Poor, IV., 332. This locality is
much infested with pickpockets and also
with DRAGSMEN, i.e., those persons who
steal goods or luggage from carts and
coaches.
DRAG-SNEAK, subs. (old). — A thief
who makes a speciality of robbing
vehicles. — [See DRAG, sense i.]
Also DRAGSMAN and DRAGGER,
seequot., 1781.
1781. G. PARKER, View of Society,
II., 151. DRAGGERS [named and described
in].
1856. H. MAYHEW, Gt. World of
London, p. 46. Belonging to the first
variety, or those who sneak off with goods,
are DRAG-SNEAKS, who make ofl with goods
from carts or coaches.
DRAG THE PUDDING, verb. phr.
(tailors'). — To ' get the sack '
just before Christmas-time.
DRAIN, subs, (common). — A drink.
For synonyms, see Go. To DO A
DRAIN, WET (q.v.\ or COMMON
SEWER (q.v.) = \.o take a friendly
drink.
1835. DICKENS, Sketches by JBoz,
p. 106. Those two old men who came in
just to have a DRAIN, finished their third
quartern a few seconds ago.
1883. Daily Telegraph, 2 July, p. 5,
col. 3. The drinking portion of the
Americans are excessively partial to per-
pendicular DRAINS of cocktails and other
drams with more or less preposterous
names.
2. (old). — Gin. [From its diu-
retic qualities,] For synonyms,
see DRINKS.
3. (venery). — The female
pudendum. For synonyms, see
MONOSYLLABLE.
DRAINS, subs, (nautical). — A ship's
cook ; otherwise THE DOCTOR
DRAMMER. — See DRUMMER.
DRAPER. — See GAMMON THE
DRAPER.
DRAT, verb, and DRATTED,^', (col-
loquial).— A mild and indefinite
imprecation of contempt, or im-
patience. [A corruption of ' God
rot it.'} For synonyms, see
Oaths.
1846. Punch, vol. XL, p. 40, col. 2.
1852. DICKENS, Bleak House, ch.
xxi., p. 178. DRAT you, be quiet ! says
the good old man.
18(54. Churchman's Family Maga-
zine, Nov., p. 420.
1869. MRS. H. WOOD, Roland Yorke,
ch. v. If that DRATTED girl had been at
her post indoors ... it might never have
happened.
1883. JAMES PAYN, Thicker than
Water, ch. xxix. An observation which,
I am sorry to say, . . . she supplemented
with ' DRAT the girl ! '
DRAUGHT, subs, (colloquial). — A
privy. For synonyms, see MRS.
"ONES.
1602. SHAKSPKARE, Troilus and
Cressida, v. i. Sweet DRAUGHT ! [Sweet
quoth 'a ! sweet sink, sweet sewer !
1633. HARRINGTON, Epigrams. A
godly father sitting on a DRAUGHT, To do
as need and nature hath us taught,
Mumbled (as was his manner) certaine
prayers.
DRAW, subs, (popular). — i. An
undecided contest. [An abbre-
viation of ' drawn game.']
Drait\
323
Draw.
2. (common). — An attrac-
tion ; e.g., an article ; a popular
preacher ; a successful play ; and
so forth.
1883. Saturday Review, 21 April, p.
497, col. 2. The insinuation that umbrellas
are the creation of the devil to tempt
otherwise honest men ... is an unfailing
DRAW, whether in a comic paper or ai»
after-dinner speech.
3. (cricket). — A stroke with
the surface of the bat inclined to
the ground.
Verb (common). — I. To at-
tract public attention. — See subs.,
sense 2.
1883. HAWLKY SMART, At Fault,
III., xv., 238. Like a judicious theatrical
manager, he usually kept ' his show '
running as long as it would DRAW.
2. (thieves'). — To steal ; to
pick pocket?. To DRAW A WIPE
or TICKER = to prig a handker-
chief or watch ; TO DRAW A
DAMPER = to empty a till.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
s.v. To DRAW a swell of a clout, To
pick a gentleman's pocket of a hand-
kerchief.
1878. CHARLES HINDLEY, Life and
Times of James Catnach. Chorus. Frisk
the Cly and fork the rag, DRAW the
fogies plummy, Speak to the tattler, bag
the swag, And finely hunt the dummy.
3. (common). — To tease into
vexation; take in ; make game of.
4. (colloquial). — To bring
out ; to cause to act, write, or
speak, by flattery, mis-statement,
or deceit. Also TO DRAW OUT ;
Fr., tirer les vers du nez.
I860, THACKERAY, Philip, ch. vi.
The wags who call upon Mrs. Brandon
can always, as the phrase is, ' DRAW ' her
father, by speaking of Prussia, France,
Waterloo, or battles in general.
1883. GREENWOOD, Tag, Rag, and
Co. The older tramp was in conversation
with him, and evidently DRAWING HIM
OUT.
1889. Colonies and India, 24 July,
p. ii, col. i. Any libel or unjust criticism
on Western Australia is sure to DRAW that
sturdy friend of the Colony in London,
Mr. Charles Bethell.
1890. Pall Mall Gazette, 16 July,
p. 4, col. 2. They had the satisfaction last
night of seeing him regularly DRAWN by
Mr. Morley.
5. (colloquial). — To ease of
money : e.g. , ' I DREW him for a
hundred ' ; ' She DREW me for a
dollar ' !
6. (venery). — Cf., DOG-
DRAWN (y.v.).
To DRAW ON [A MAN], verb,
phr. (common and American). —
To use a knife. — See BEAD.
1885. Saturday Review, 7 Feb., p.
167. I'll never DRAW a revolver ON a man
again as long as I live.
TO DRAW A BEAD ON, Verb.
phr. (common and American). —
To attack with rifle or revolver.
1886, World, ii August, p. 12. It
is said that twice A BEAD WAS DRAWN
UPON him, but fortunately the shots missed.
TO DRAW A STRAIGHT FUR-
ROW, verbal phr. (American). —
To live uprightly.
To DRAW ONE'S FIREWORKS
(or TO DRAW ONE OFF), verb,
phr. (venery). — To cool one's
ardour by coitiun (said of men by
women).
To DRAW PLASTER, verb. phr.
(tailors'). — To ' fish ' for a man's
intentions.
To DRAW STRAWS, verb. phr.
(old). — See quot.
1728. SWIFT, Polite Conversation
(conv. iii). Lady Ans. I'm sure 'tis time for
all honest folks to go to bed. Miss. Indeed
my eyes DRAW STRAWS (she's almost
asleep) . . . Col. I'm going to the Land
of Nod. Ner. Faith, I'm for Bedford-
shire.
To DRAW TEETH, verb. phr.
(old). — To wrench knockers and
handles from street doors.
Draw.
324
Draw-latch.
TO DRAW THE BADGER.— See
BADGER, verb.
To DRAW BLANKS, verb. phr.
(colloquial). — To fail ; to be dis-
appointed. [From drawing a
blank in a lottery. ]
TO DRAW THE BOW UP TO
THE EAR. — See BOW.
TO DRAW Or PULL THE LONG
BOW, verb. phr. (colloquial). —
See Bow and quots., infra.
1849. THACKERAY, Pendennis, ch.
xxx. What is it makes him PULL THE
LONG BOW in that wonderful manner?
1883. A DOBSON, Old World Idylls,
6134. The great Gargilius, then, behold !
is LONG BOW hunting tales of old Are
now but duller.
To DRAW THE CORK, verb.
phr. (pugilistic). — To make blood
to flow J TO TAP THE CLARET
1860. Chambers Journal, vol. XIII.,
p. 348.
TO DRAW THE KING'S or
QUEEN'S PICTURE, verb. phr.
(common). — To manufacture
counterfeit coins.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
s.v.
TO DRAW WOOL Or WORSTED,
verb. phr. (tailors'). — To irritate ;
to foment a quarrel. Cf.> COMB
ONE'S HAIR.
DRAW IT MILD ! phr. (com-
mon). — An interjection of (i)
derision ; (2) incredulity ; (3)
supplication. Cf., COME IT
STRONG.
1837. R. H. BARHAM, Ingoldsby
Legends (ed. 1862.), p. 322. It was
not so much for myself as for that vulgar
child, And I said, 'A pint of double X,
and please to DRAW IT MILD.'
1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 60, col. 2.
DRAW IT MILD ! as the boy with the
decayed tooth said to the dentist.
1841. Comic Almanack, p. 271.
Vehement cries of ' bravo ! ' and ' DRAW IT
MILD ! ' here interrupt the speaker ; but he
declares he cannot DRAW IT ANY MILDER.
1850. SMEDLEY, Frank Fairleigh,
p. 10. DRAW IT MILD, old fellow ! inter-
rupted the young gentleman in question.
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 154. This
caused angry words, and Nancy was
solemnly requested to DRAW IT MILD, like
a good soul.
1854. MARTIN and AYTOUN, Bon
Gaultier Ballads. ' The Biter Bit.' And
if you'd please, my mother dear, your
poor desponding child, Draw me a pot of
beer, mother, and mother ! DRAW IT MILD.
DRAW- BOY, stibs. (trade). — A supe-
rior article ticketed and offered
at a figure lower than its value.
Cf.y DRAW, sense 2.
DRAWER -ON, subs, (colloquial). —
An appetiser : used only of food
as PULLER-ON (q.v.) of drink.
Both are in Massinger.
DRAWERS, subs, (old), — Embroi-
dered stockings. Fr. , bas-de-tire ;
tirants brodanches. Spanish,
detnias ; tirantes. German, Zehn-
ling. It., tiranti.
1567. HARMAN, Caveat (1814), p. 65,
s.v.
1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all,
p. 38 (H. Club's Repr., 1874), s.v.
1671. R. HEAD, English Rogue,
pt. I., ch. v., p. 48(1874), s.v.
1706. E. COLES, Eng. Diet., s.v.
DRAW- FART (or DOCTOR DRAW-
FART), subs, (common). — A wan-
dering quack.
DRAW-LATCH,.y«fo. (old). — A thief;
also a loiterer.
^ 1631. CHETTLE, Hotfman. Well,
phisitian, attend in mv chamber,
heere, till Stilt and I returne ; and if I
pepper him not, say I am not worthy to be
cald a duke, but a DRAWLATCH.
Draiv-off.
325
Dress to Death.
1706. E. COLES, Eng. Diet. DRAW
LATCHES, Roberdsmen, Night thieves.
loll. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
[Date uncertain]. Nursery Rhyme.
Cross-patch, DRAW THE LATCH, sit by the
fire and spin.
DRAW-OFF, verb (pugilistic). — To
ihrow back the body to strike;
* he DREW OFF, and delivered on
the left peeper. ' A sailor would
say, 'he hauled off and slipped
DREADFUL, subs, (common).— A
' sensational' story, newspaper, or
print. For variants, see AWFUL,
and SHILLING SHOCKER.
1890. Academy, i Feb., p. 78, col. I.
Mr. George Manville Fenn is an old hand
at a story with an alarming title, and he
seldoms fails to live up to it. The only
thing we can say against his last
' DREADFUL ' is that it is a little deficient
DREDGERMAN, subs, (common). —
Explained in quot.
1857. DICKENS, Down with the Tide,
in Reprinted Pieces, p. 269. Besides
these, there were the DREDGEKMEN, who,
under pretence of dredging up coals and
such like from the bottom of the river,
hung about barges and other undecked
craft, and when they saw an opportunity,
threw any property they could lay their
hands on overboard : in order, slyly, to
dredge it up when the vessel was gone.
Sometimes, they dexterously used their
dredges to whip away anything that might
lie within reach. Some of them were
mighty neat at this, and the accomplishment
was called dry dredging.
DRESS, subs. (Winchester College).
— The players who come next in
order after Six or FIFTEEN. [So
called because they come down
to the matches ready dressed to
act as substitutes if required.]
DRESS A HAT, verb. phr. (common).
— To exchange pilferings : e.g.,
to swap pickings from a hosier's
stock with a shoemaker's assistant
for boots or shoes.
DRESS DOWN, verb. phr. (collo-
quial).— To beat; also to scold.
— See TAN and WIG respectively
for synonyms. C/., DRESSING.
1715. MRS. CENTLIVRE, Gotham
Election, Sc. v. I'll DRESS her DOWN, I
warrant her, and she be for fighting.
DRESSED LIKE XMAS BEEF. —
See BEEF.
DRESS-HOUSE, subs, (common). —
A brothel. Cf.t DRESS-LODGER.
DRESSING, or DRESSING-DOWN,
subs, (colloquial). — Correction,
whether manual or verbal ; also
defeat. Cf., BASTE. For syno-
nyms, see TANNING.
1811. JANE AUSTEN, Sense and S.,
ch. xxx. If ever I meet him again I will
give him such a DRESSING as he has not
had this many a day.
1855. THACKERAY, Newcpmes, ch.
xxviii. The Scourge flogged him heartily
.... and the Penny Voice of Freedom
gave him an awful DRESSING.
DRESS-LODGER, subs, (common).
— A woman boarded, fed, and
clothed by another, and paying
by prostitution.
1836. KIDD, London and all its Dan-
gers, p. 32. DRESS LADIES are a class of
Cyprians who deserve no pity. They are
voluntarily the property of an old hag who
clothes them elegantly for the wages of
their prostitution, and their only aim is to
enjoy themselves, and cheat her of half her
perquisites.
1869. GREENWOOD, Seven Curses of
London. You would never dream of the
deplorable depth of her destitution if you
met her in her gay attire. . . . She is ab-
solutely poorer than the meanest beggar
that ever whined for a crust. These women
are known as DRESS LODGERS.
DRESS TO DEATH, DRESS WITHIN
AN INCH OF ONE'S LIFE, or
DRESS TO KILL, verb. ph>\ (collo-
quial). To DRESS in the extreme
of fashion.
Dressy.
326
Drinks.
1859. Notes and Queries, S. 2, viii.,
490. ' He was got up very extensively,'
said of a man who is DRESSED WITHIN AN
INCH OF HIS LIFE Or DRESSED TO DEATH.
DRESSY, adj. (colloquial). —Fond
of dress.
DRILLED, ///. adj. (old). — Shot
through the body.
1833. MARRYAT, Peter Simple [ed.
1846], I., iv., 17. And what is winged and
DRILLED? enquired I.
DRINKS. — The subjoined lists will
be of interest.
INVITATIONS TO DRINK. —
What'll you have? Nominate
your pizen ! Will you irrigate ?
Will you tod ? Wet your whistle ?
How'll you have it ? Let us
stimulate ! Let's drive another
nail ! What's your medicine ?
Willst du trinken ? Try a little
anti -abstinence ? Twy (zwei)
lager ! Your whiskey's waiting.
Will you try a smile ? Will you
take a nip ? Let's get there.
Try a little Indian? Come and
see your pa? Suck some corn
juice ? Let's liquor up. Let's go
and see the baby.
RESPONSES TO INVITATIONS TO
DRINK. — Here's into your face !
Here's how ! Here's at you !
Don't care if I do. Well, I will.
I'm thar ! Accepted, uncon-
ditionally. Well, I don't mind.
Sir, your most. Sir, your utmost.
You do me proud ! Yes, sir-ree !
With you — yes ! Anything to
oblige. On time. I'm with you.
Count me in. I subscribe.
SYNONYMS FOR A DRINK [i.e.,
a portion], generally, or when
taken at specified times. — Anti-
lunch ; appetiser ; ball ; bullock's
eye (a glass of port) ; bead ;
bosom friend ; bucket ; bumper ;
big-reposer ; chit-chat ; cheerer ;
cindei ; corker; cobbler; damper,
or something damp ; dannie ;
drain ; dram ; deoch-an-doras ;
digester ; eye-opener ; entr'acte ;
fancy smile ; flash ; flip ; facer ;
forenoon ; go ; gill ; heeltap ;
invigorator ; Johnny ; joram ;
morning rouser ; modicum ; nip,
or nipperkin ; night cap ; nut ;
pistol shot ; pony ; pill ; quantum ;
refresher ; rouser ; reposer ;
shout ; smile ; swig ; sleeve-
button ; something ; slight sen-
sation ; shant ; sparkler ; settler ;
stimulant ; soother ; thimble -
full ; tift ; taste ; toothful ;
Timothy. For other synonyms,
see Go.
GENERAL SYNONYMS FOR
DRINK. — Breaky - leg ; bub ;
crater (also = whiskey) ; fuddle ;
gargle ; grog ; guzzle ; lap ; lush ;
neck - oil ; nectar; poison; slum-
gullion ; swizzle ; stingo ; tipple ;
tittey ; toddy. For other syn-
onyms, see TIPPLE.
SYNONYMS FOR BEER (in-
cluding stout). — Act of Parlia-
ment ; artesian ; barley ; belch ;
belly - vengeance ; bevy or
bevvy ; brownstone ; bum-clink ;
bung - juice ; bunker ; cold-
blood ; down (see UP) ; English
burgundy (porter) ; gatter ; half-
and-half; heavy-wet ; John Bar-
leycorn ; knock down or knock -
me-down ; oil of barley ; perkin ;
ponge, pongelow, or ponjello ;
rosin ; rot-gut ; sherbert ; stingo ;
swankey ; swipes ; swizzle ; up
(bottled ale or stout). For other
synonyms, see SWIPES.
SYNONYMS FOR BRAND?. — Ball
of fire ; bingo ; cold-tea ; cold-
nantz ; French elixir or cream.
For other synonyms, see FRENCH
ELIXIR.
Drinks.
327
Drinks.
SYNONYMS FOR WHISKEY. —
Aquavitae; bald -face; barley-bree;
breaky-leg ; bottled-earthquake ;
bum-clink ; caper-juice ; cappie ;
curse of Scotland ; family • dis-
turbance ; farintosh ; forty-rod
lightning; grapple-the-rails ; hard
stuff ; hell-broth ; infernal com-
pound ; kill-the-beggar ; lightning ;
liquid fire ; moonlight ; moon-
shine ; mountain-dew ; old man's
milk ; pine-top ; railroad ; red-
eye ; rotgut ; screech ; Simon
pure ; sit-on-a-rock (rye whiskey)
soul - destroyer ; square - face ;
stone-fence ; tangle-foot ; the real
thing; the sma' still; white-eye.
>or other synonyms, se£ OLD
MAN'S MILK.
SYNONYMS FOR GIN. — Blue
ruin ; blue-tape ; Brian O'Lynn
(rhyming) ; cat-water ; cream of
the valley ; daffy ; diddle ; drain ;
duke ; eye-water ; frog's wine ;
juniper ; jackey ; lap ; max ;
misery ; old Tom ; ribbon ; satin ;
soothing - syrup ; stark - naked ;
strip - me-naked ; tape ; white
satin, tape, or wine. For other
synonyms, see SATIN.
SYNONYMS FOR CHAMPAGNE.
— Cham or chammy ; boy ; fiz ;
dry ; bitches' wine.
SYNONYMS FOR PORT. — Red
fustian (q.v. ).
SYNONYMS FOR SHERRY. —
Bristol milk ; white wash.
TERMS IMPLYING VARIOUS
DEGREES OF INTOXICATION. —
All mops and brooms ; at rest ;
Bacchi plemis ; battered ; be-
argured ; beery ; been at a plough-
ing match, crooking the elbow,
drowning the shamrock, having a
cooler or warmer, having the eyes
opened, in thesun, looking through
a glass, lifting the little finger,
making fun, on sentry, talking to
Jamie Moore or tryingTaylor 's best ;
bemused ; been bit by a barn mouse;
blued ; boosed or boosy ; bosky ;
bright in the eye ; buffy ; canon ;
can't see a hole in a ladder ; can't
say National Intelligencer ; chirp-
ing-merry; clear; corned ; croaked;
crooked; cup-shot; cut; damaged;
dipped rather deep ; disguised ;
doing the lord or emperor ; done
over; down with barrel fever ; dry;
electrified ; elevated ; elephant's-
trunk (rhyming) ; far-gone ; feeling
right royal ; flushed ; flustered ;
flawed ; been flying rather high ;
foggy ; fou', or fou' as a piper ;
fuddled ; full ; foxed ; glorious ;
got a drop in the eye ; got the back
teeth well afloat ; greetin' fu ? ;
groggy ; got the gravel rash ; half-
cut ; half-seas-over ; hard- up ; hazy;
hearty ; helpless ; in a difficulty ;
in liquor ; in the altitudes ; in
one's cups ; inspired ; in the
blues, shakes, or horrors ; jolly ;
kisky ; been lapping the gutter ;
loose; looking lively; lumpy ;lushy;
mellow ; miraculous ; mortal ;
moony; muggy; muddled; muzzy ;
nappy ; obfuscated ; on ; on his
fourth ; on the batter, beer, bend,
fuddle, loose, muddle, ramble,
ran-tan, ree-raw, rampage, skyte,
or spree ; off his nut ; out of
funds ; overcome ; overtaken ;
paralysed ; pecki>h ; ploughed ;
podgy ; pruned ; pushed ; raddled ;
rather touched ; reeling ; roaring ;
salubrious ; screwed ; scammered ;
sewed-up ; shaky ; slewed ; smee
kit ; smelling of the cork ; soaked ;
spiffed ; spreeish ; sprung ; stolling ;
starchery; swipey; tavered ; taking
it easy ; thirsty ; three-sheets-in-
the-wind ; tight ; tipsy ; top-heavy ;
unco' happy ; under the influence ;
up a tree ; waving a flag of
defiance ; with the mainbrace well
spliced ; got thesun in the eyes;
Dripper.
328
Drive.
whittled ; wet ; winey ; yaupish,
yappy, or yaupy. For other
synonyms, see SCREWED, and cf.,
DRUNK AS DAVY'S sow.
See also lists under ELBOW-
CROOKER; DRUNK; LUSH; GAL-
LON DISTEMPER ; GLADSTONE ;
PISTOL ; FLESH AND BLOOD ;
and RAZORS.
DRIPPER, subs. (old). — A gleet.
DRIPPING, suds, (common). — A
cook ; especially an indifferent
one. Fr., un fripier and une
daiibe. C/., DOCTOR and SLUSHY
(qv.} = a. ship's cook.
DRIVE, subs, (common). — A blow.
Cf., 'LET DRIVE ' = to aim a blow;
to strike. ' Four rogues in buck-
ram LET DRIVE at me.' — Shak-
speare. For synonyms, see DIG.
1863. H. KINGSLEY, Austin Elliot,
ch. xix. Lord Charles, after three or four
attempts, had managed to give him a vio-
lent ' DRIVE ' on the shins under the table.
Verb (cricket). — To send a
ball off the bat with full force
horizontally.
To DRIVE AT, verb. phr. (collo-
quial).— To aim at : e.g., What
are you DRIVING AT ?= What do
you mean ?
1697. VANBRUGH, Relapse, Act iii.,
Sc. 2. I can't imagine what you DRIVE AT,
Pray tell me what you mean.
1730. JAS. MILLER, Humours of Ox-
ford, Act iii., p. 41 (2 ed.). Tru. What
does the coxcomb DRIVE AT?
1752. FIELDING, Amelia, bk. IX.,
ch. iii. ' O, your servant, sir,' said the
Colonel, ' I see what you are DRIVING AT.'
1861. H. KINGSLEY, Ravenskoe, ch.
xii. Howld yer impudence, ye young
heretic doggrel-writer ; can't I see what ye
are DRIVING AT?
To DRIVE A BARGAIN, verb. phr.
(colloquial).-— To conduct a nego-
tiation ; to make the best terms
you can ; to dispute a condition or
a price ; to succeed in a ' deal. ' Cf. ,
TO DRIVE A HUMMING TRADE.
1580. SIDNEY, Arcadia. My true
love hath my heart, and I have his, There
never was a better BARGAIN DRIVEN.
1638. YOKD, Lady's Trial,V.,i\. Love
DROVE THE BARGAIN, and the truth of love
confirmed it.
1668. ETHEREGE, She Would if She
Could, V., in wks. (1704), p. 172. How . . .
goes the business between you and these
ladies? Are you like to DRIVE A BARGAIN ?
1688. SHADWELL, Sq. of Alsatia, ii.,
in wks. (1720), iv., 43. He never ....
drinks hard, but upon design, as DRIVING A
BARGAIN, Or SO.
1697. VANBRUGH, Provoked Wife,
II., i. Why, madam, TO DRIVE A Qua-
ker's BARGAIN, and make but one word
with you, if I do part with it, you must lay
down your affectation.
1 712. Spectator, No. 450. I do not
remember I was ever overtaken in drink,
save .... five times at DRIVING OF BAR-
GAINS.
1837. LYTTON, Ernest Maltravers,
wks. IV., ch. vii. You'll DRIVE A much
better BARGAIN with me than with her.
1855. MRS. GASKELL, North and
South, ch. xxvii. As it affected his branch
of the trade he took advantage of it, and
DROVE hard BARGAINS.
TO DRIVE A HUMMING or
ROARING TRADE, verb. phr.
(colloquial). — To do well in busi-
ness.
1625. JONSON, Staple of News, II.
And as you say, DRIVE A QUICK PRETTY
TRADE Still.
1736. FIELDING, Don Quixote, III.,
iv. You are to DRIVE A HUMMING TRADE
here.
1883. HAWLEY SMART, Hard Lines,
ch. vii. The vendors of apples, oranges,
and gingerbread .... were DRIVING A
ROARING TRADE.
1883. A. DOBSON, Hogarth, p. 71.
The gentleman at the sign of the ' Three
Balls ' is DRIVING A ROARING TRADE.
TO DRIVE ONESELF TO THE
WASH, verb. phr. (common). — To
drive in a basket-chaise.
Driz.
329
Drop.
TO DRIVE PIGS TO MARKET,
verb. phr. (common). — To snore.
— See quot. Fr. , jouer ct la ronfle
or de Forgue ;
1787. GROSE, Prov. Glossary, &»c.,
p. 64 (1811). He is DRIVING HIS HOGS
OVER SWARSTON - BRIDGE. This is a
saying used in Derbyshire, when a man
snores in his sleep. Swarston-bridge (or
bridges, for there are several of them, one
after another) is very long, and not very
wide, which causes the hogs to be crowded
together, in which situation they always
make a loud grunting noise.
TO DRIVE TURKEYS TO
MARKET, verb. phr. (common). —
To reel and wobble in drink.
To DRIVE FRENCH HORSES,
verb. phr. (common). — To vomit.
[From the ' Hue done ' of French
carters to their teams.] For
synonyms, see ACCOUNTS.
DRIVER'S PINT, subs. phr.
(military). — A gallon.
DRIZ, subs, (thieves'). — Lace. Fr.,
la niiche (pop., in allusion to the
holes in a loaf of bread) ; la gra-
touse (thieves' : gratouse = adorned
with lace) ; la paille (thieves' :
also, straw, or chaff) ; la galuche
(thieves') ; le ray^n de miel
(thieves').
1812. DE VAUX, Flash Diet., s.v.
1834. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, bk.
III., ch. v. [see CAMESA].
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. 1., p. 233. Scotch
Mary, with ' DRIZ ' (lace), bound to
Dover and back.
DRIZ-FENCER, subs, (thieves'). —
A seller of lace ; also a receiver
of stolen material. [From DRIZ +
FENCE.]
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 429. Among
street-people the lace is called driz, and
the sellers of it PHIZ-FENCERS.
DR. JOHNSON, subs. phr. (old). —
The penis. For synonyms, see
CREAMSTICK.
DRODDUM, subs. (Scots'). — The
posteriors. For synonyms, see
BLIND CHEEKS, BUM, and MO-
NOCULAR EYEGLASS.
1786. BURNS, To a Louse. — O for
some rank mercurial rozet, Some fell, red
smeddum, I'd gie ye sic a hearty doze o't,
Wad dress your DRODDUM !
DROMAKY, subs, (provincial).— A
prostitute : north of England,
particularly N. and S. Shields.
[From a strolling actress who
personated Andromache.]
DROMEDARY, subs, (old).— A bung-
ler ; specifically, a bungling thief.
Also PURPLE DROMEDARY (q.V.).
DROP, subs. (old). — See DROP-
GAME.
Verb (common). — I. To lose,
give, or part with.
1812. VAUX, Flask Diet. He
DROPPED me a quid, He gave me a
guinea.
1849. THACKERAY, Pendennis, ch.
xliii. That rascal Blackland got the
bones out, and we played hazard on the
dining-table. And I DROPPED all the
money I had from you in the morning.
1870. London Figaro, 7 June. The
money DROPPED by the turf prophets in
the investment of advertisments, postage-
stamps, and ' an office for the transaction
of the increasing business of their numerous
clients,' is quickly returned to them.
1876. BESANT and RICE, Golden
Butterfly, ch. xxxi. Ladds is hard at
work at ecarte with a villainous-looking
stranger. And I should think, from the
way Tommy is sticking at it, that Tommy
is DROPPING pretty heavily.
1880. A TROLLOPE, The Duke's
Children, ch. Ixiii. Nobody could have
been more sorry than me that your Lord-
ship DROPPED your money.
2. (colloquial).— To relinquish ;
abandon; leave : £.^.,TO DROP AN
Drop.
Drop.
ACQUAINTANCE = to gradually
withdraw from intercourse. Cf.,
CUT, verb, sense 2. To DROP THE
MAIN TOBY =. to turn out of the
main road.
1711. Spectator, No. 89. He verily
believes she will DROP him in his old age,
if she can find her account in another.
1751. SMOLLETT, Peregrine Pickle,
ch. Ixxxi. They attempted to make a
proselyte of me ; but finding the task
impracticable on both sides, we very wisely
DROPPED each other.
_ 1855. THACKERAY, Newcomes, ch.
xxiv. What do these people mean by ask-
ing a fellow to dinner in August, and tak-
ing me up after DROPPING me for two
years ?
187-2. DR. DORAN, A Lady of the
Last Century. ' Mrs. Montague, sir,'
said Dr. Johnson, ' has DROPT me.'
3. (pugilistic). — To knock
down. Cf., TO DROP INTO = to
thrash.
4. (sporting and duelling). — To
bring down with a shot.
1852. ¥.~E.SMEDL.EY, Lewi's A runnel
ch. v. But when you do make a hit, DROP
your man if possible ; it settles him and
Irightens the rest.
To DROP ANCHOR, verb. phr.
(racing). — To pull up a horse.
To DROP ONE'S ANCHOR, verb,
phr. (colloquial). — To sit (or
settle) down.
To DROP A COG. — See DROP-
GAME.
To DROP ONE'S FLAG (collo-
quial).— To salute ; also to submit ;
to lower one's colours.
TO DROP, HANG, SLIP, Or
WALK INTO, verb. phr. (collo-
quial).—To attack. Cf., DROP
ON TO.
1852. DICKENS, Bleak House, ch.
xxiv., p. 217. He's welcome TO DROP
INTO me, right and left, if he likes.
1884. Punch, 10 May, p. 217, col. 2.
If I ever drop into tune, I deserve to be
DROPPED INTO by the critics afterwards.
TO DROP OFF THE HOOKS,
verb. phr. (common). — To die.
For synonyms, see ALOFT and
HOP THE TWIG.
1857. DUCANGE ANGLICUS, The Vul-
gar Tongue, s.v.
To DROP ONE'S LEAF, verb,
phr. (common). — To die. [P>om
the 'fall of the leaf in nature]
For synonyms see ALOFT and
HOP THE TWIG.
To DROP ON ONE, verb. phr.
(colloquial). — To accuse or call to
account without warning. Also =
to thrash. Cf., To DROP INTO.
1877. Five Years Penal Servitude,
ch. iv., p. 268. During the weeks or months
that the siege is going on, and the plans are
working, do the police ever DROP UPON
the parties and frustrate their plans ?
TO DROP THE SCABS IN, verb,
phr. (tailors'). — To work buiton-
holes.
To DROP ONE'S WAX, or TO
DROP A TURD (vulgar). — To
evacuate or ' rear.'
TO GET or HAVE THE DROP
ON, verb. phr. (American).— To
hold at disadvantage ; to forestall.
1888. Troy Daily Times, 8 Feb. 1
also kept my revolver handy and did not
propose that he should GET THE DROP ON
me. When he found that I was prepared
for him, he did not try to shoot me.
1888. Texas Si/tings, Aug. At any
rate, we will not let Arcturus GET THE
DROP ON the reading public.
TO HAVE A DROP IN THE EYE,
verb. phr. (common). — To be
slightly drunk. For synonyms,
see bCREWED.
1738. SWIFT, Polite Conversation.
O faith. Colonel, you must own you HAD A
DROP IN YOUR EYE, for when I left you you
were half-seas over.
Drop it.
33'
Drum.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue ,
s.v.
DROP IT 1 phr. (colloquial). —
Cease ! CUT IT ! CHEESE IT
(q.v. sense 2).
1854. WHYTE MELVILLE, General
Bounce, ch. xxvi. A jackdaw on the roof
brings their hearts into their mouths ;
were it not for the case-bottle they would
DROP IT even now.
1859. DICKENS, Tale of Two Cities,
bk. II., ch. xix. You might as well flop
as meditate. You may as well go again me
one way as another. DROP IT altogether.
1872. Public Opinion, 24 Feb., p. 241.
'Inside Newgate.1 Do you know New-
gate ? I said to a cabman whom I hailed in
Piccadilly on Saturday afternoon. He
looked at me angrily, and briefly answered,
DROP IT.
DROP-GAM E, subs. (old). — A variety
of the confidence trick : — The
thief picks out his victim, gets in
front of him, and pretends to
pick up (say) a pocket - book,
(snide) which he induces the
greenhorn to buy for cash. The
object is a COG, and the operator
a DROPPER or DROP-COVE.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
s.v.
1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, or
Rogue's Lexicon, s.v.
DROPPED ON, adv. phr. (tailors'). —
Disappointed.
DROPPER, subs. (old). — A specialist
in the DROP-GAME (q.v.}. Also
DROP-COVE.
1669. Nicker Nicked, in Harl. Misc.
(ed. Park), ii. 108. [In list of names of
thieves.]
DROPPING, verb, siibs. (old Royal
Military Academy). — A beating ;
'I'll give you a good DKOPPING
i.e., I'll thrash you severely. For
synonyms, see TANNING.
DROPPING-MEMBER, subs. (o'd). —
The penis ; specifically one
affected with gonorrhoea.
DROPPINGS, subs, (vulgar). —The
excrement of horses and sheep.
DROWN THE MILLER.-^*? MILLER.
DRUDGE, subs. (American). —
Whiskey in its raw state, as used
in the manufacture of alcohol.
For synonyms, see DRINKS.
1869. S. S. HALDEMAN, Pennsyl-
vania Dutch. DRUDGK, another name
for raw whiskey, originating in the Eastern
States. I doubt whether the word DRUDGE
is thirty years old.
DRUG, verb (colloquial). — To ad-
minister a narcotic.
A DRUG IN THE MARKET,
subs. phr. (colloquial). — Anything
so common as to be not vendible.
DRUM, subs, (old). — i. An enter-
tainment ; now a tea before
dinner; a KETTLE-DRUM (q.v.).
1750. FIELDING. Tom Jones, bk.
XVII., ch. vi. A DRUM, then, is an as-
sembly of well - dressed persons of both
sexes, most of whom play at cards and the
rest do nothing at all, while the mistress of
the house performs the part of the landlady
at an inn.
1854. WHYTE MELVILLE, General
Bounce, ch. i. We recollect it well, not so
many years ago, lit up for one of those
great solemnities which novelists call 'a
rout,' but which people in real life, equally
martially as well as metaphorically desig-
nate ' A DRUM.'
2. (thieves'). — A road, street,
or highway. [From the Gr.
through the Gypsy drom.]
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Drag ;
toby ; high or main toby ; pad ;
donbite ; finger and thumb
(rhyming).
FRENCH SYNONYMS. La trime.
(thieves') ; le General Macadam
(popular, also = the public).
Drummer.
332
Drumsticks.
SPANISH SYNONYM. Calca.
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and L on. Po r, vol. i., p. 231. We . . .
slink into the crib (house) in the back
DRUM (street).
3. (pugilistic). — The ear. For
synonyms, see HEARING-CHEAT.
4. (old). — A building ; HAZ-
ARD-DRUM = a gambling hell ;
FLASH-DRUM = a brothel ; CROSS-
DRUM = a thieves' tavern. For
synonyms, see KEN. In U.S.A.,
a drinking place.
1867. JAS. GREENWOOD, Unsent.
Journeys, xxvi., 204. 'Come along; I
shall be a pot to your pot.' ' Where shall
we go?' 'Oh, to the old DRUM, I sup-
pose.'
1890. Illustrated Bits, 29 March,
p. ii, col. i. The two chums were footing
it to the 'ancient DRUM,' as they called
the Norwich theatre.
5. (Australian). — A bundle
carried on tramp ; generally worn
as a roll over the right shoulder
and under the left arm. Also
BLUEY and SWAG (q.v.). Cf.,
SWAGSMAN.
1887. G. A. SAL A, in ///. London
News, 12 March, 282/2. Here are a few
more items of Australian slang kindly for-
warded to me by a correspondent : — ' To
hump one's swag,' or ' DRUM/ i.e., to pack
up a bundle to be carried on the shoulders.
1890. Family Herald, 8 Feb., p.
227. I was just debating whether I had
better ' hump my DRUM.'
6. (tiilors'). — A small work-
shop. Of., sense 4.
DRUMMER, n«fc. (old). — T. Ahorse,
the action of whose forelegs is
irregular. [Grose — 1785.]
2. (old). — A thief who before
robbing narcotises or otherwise
stupifies his victim.
1856. H. MAYHEW, Great World of
London, p. 46. Those who hocus or plun-
der personsjjy stupifying; as 'DRUMMERS'
who drug liquor.
3. (general). — A commercial
traveller ; also AMBASSADOR OF
COMMERCE or BAGMAN (q.v.) ;
Fr., un gaudissart (from one of
Balzac's novels) ; nne hirondelle
(=a swallow). {.Cf., DRUM = a
road ; and old - time pedlars
announced themselves by beating
a drum at the town's end.]
1827. SCOTT, to C. K. Sharpe, in
C. K. S.'s Correspondence (1888), ii. 398.
Dear Charles, — I find the Nos. of Lodge's
book did not belong to the set which I con-
sider yours, but were left by some DRUM-
MER of the trade upon speculation, so I
must give you the trouble to return it. [In
another letter on next page S. again refers
to the 'scoundrelly DRUMMER.'
ante 1871. [in DE VERB], A Country
Merchant ottt West, p. 217. Look at that
man, he s DRUMMER for A. T. Stewart.
1877. M. TWAIN, Life on the
Mississippi, ch. xxxix., p. 365. It soon
transpired that they were DRUMMERS — one
belonging in Cincinnati, the other in New
Orleans.
1885. G. A. SALA, Daily Telegraph,
14 August, 5, 3. Among whom were
conspicuous sundry DRUMMERS, or repre-
sentatives of American commercial firms,
bound for Australasia, there to push their
wares.
4. (tailors'). — A trousers' maker,
Or KlCKSEYS'-BUILDER (q.V.).
DRUMSTICK - CASES, subs, (com-
mon).— Trousers. [From DRUM-
STICK = a leg + CASE, a cover.]
For synonyms, see BAGS and
KICKS.
DRUMSTICKS, subs, (common).— i.
The legs — especially of birds.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Cheese-
cutters (bandy legs) ; stumps ;
cabbage - stumps ; pins ; gams ;
notches ; shanks ; stems ; stumps ;
clubs ; marrow-bones ; cat-sticks ;
trap-sticks ; dripping sticks ;
trams ; trespassers ; pegs ; knights
of the garter.
Drunk.
333
Drunks.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Les
brancards (popular, les brancards
de laine = weak or lame leg?) ; des
baguettes de tambour (popular
= thin legs ; properly DRUM-
STICKS) ; un baton de tremplin
(mountebanks' = a leg ; tremplin
is properly a spring-board) ; des
cotrets (popular : ' a fagot ' ; jus
de cotret = stirrup-oil, a 'lather-
ing') ; des flutes or flutes a cafe
(popular) ; des flageolets (popular);
des gambettes (popular : from O.
F. gambe = leg ; des gambilles is
of similar derivation); desfumerons
(popular) ; desftiseaux (popular :
also = a spindle or distaff) ; des
jambes en manche de reste (popu-
lar = bandy-legs ; des jambes de
coq = spindle-shanks ; des jambes
de coton = weak legs) ; numero
onze (popular = Shank's mare) ;
des guides, guiboles, guibolles, or
guibonnes (popular and thieves');
des merlins (popular) ; des four-
chettes (popular, literally, forks ;
fourchettes d Adam = ringers) ;
les chevaux a double semelles
(popular. Cf., English Shank's
ITALIAN SYNONYMS. Ramo
(literally, ' a branch ') ; calcha ;
co'onna (literally, ' a column ').
SPANISH SYNONYM. Gamba
(£/"., O. F. Gambe).
1770. FOOTE, Lame Lover, I. What,
d'ye think I would change with Bill Spindle
for one of his DRUMSTICKS.
1837. BARH AM, Ingoldsby, ' Lay of St.
Nicholas.' He helped his guest to a bit of
the breast, And he sent the DRUMSTICKS
down to be grilled.
2. In sing, (venery). — The
penis. For synonyms, see CREAM-
STICK.
DRUNK, subs, (vulgar). — A debauch;
by implication, a drunkard. ON
THE DRUNK = ' on the drink, i.o.t
drinking for days on end.
1871. Philadelphia Inquirer, 6 July.
It seems that Gamble went on a DRUNK
last Monday evening.
1879. G. R. SIMS, Dagonet Ballads
(told to the Missionary). I was out on the
DRUNK and caught it — lor, what a cuss is
drink !
[Among other meridians are drunk as
a brewer's fart ; drunk as Bacchus ; drunk
as Chloe ; drunk as the devil ; drunk as
hell ; drunk as buggery ; drunk as a Cos-
port fiddler ; drunk as a fly ; drunk as he
(or she) can stick (or hang together) ; drunk
as a lord ; drunk as an owl (American, a
biled owl) ; drunk as a tapster ; drunk as a
piper ; blind drunk ; crying drunk ; pissing
drunk ; dead drunk ; so drunk that you
can't see a hole through a ladder ; drunk
as blazes ; and so drunk that he opens his
shirt collar to piss ; tumbling drunk].
DRUNK AS DAVY'S sow. —Ex-
cessively drunk. — See DAVY'S
Sow.
DRUNKARD. To COME THE DRUNK-
ARD, verb. phr. (colloquial). —
To feign drunkenness ; also to be
drunk.
TO BE QUITE THE GAY DRUNK-
ARD (colloquial), verb, phr.—
To be more or less in liquor.
DRUNKEN-CHALKS, subs, (military).
— Good conduct badges. — See
CHALK.
DRUNKS, subs, (colloquial). — An
abbreviation of 'drunk and dis-
orderly.'
1883. Daily Telegraph, 26 March,
p. 2, col. 8. Of the twenty-nine night
charges, by far the greater number were of
DRUNKS.
1884. W. D. HOWELLS, Lady of the
Aroostook, ch. xvii. If you could see how
my mother looks when I come out of one of
my DRUNKS.
1890. Globe, 26 Feb., p. i, col. 4. 'A
Short Way with DRUNKS.' At Buenos
Ayres it is customary to punish drunkards,
... by setting them to sweep the public
streets for eight days or so.
Drury-Lane Ague. 334
Dry -up.
DRURY-LANE AGUE, subs. phf.
(old). — A venereal disease. — See
LADIES' FEVER.
DRURY-LANE VESTAL, subs. (old).
— A prostitute. Cf., COVENT
GARDEN NUN, and BANK-SIDE
LADIES.
DRY AS A Ll ME- BASKET. —See
LIME-BASKET.
DRY- BOB, suds, and verb (venery).
— Coition without emission (said
of men only).
DRY-BOOTS, subs. (old). — A dry
humorist. [Grose — 1785.]
DRY- HASH, subs. (Australian).— A
miser ; or BAD EGG ; also, by
implication, a loafer.
1887. All the Year Round, 30 July,
p. 66. In Australian parlance ... a DRY
HASH, or a stringy bark, that is, a ne'er-do-
weel.
DRY- LAND! intj. (rhyming). —
' You understand !
DRYLAND SAILOR.— See TURNPIKE
SAILOR.
DRY-LODGING, subs, (common). —
Accommodation without board.
DRY-NURSE, subs, (old).— A guard-
ian ; a bear-leader, or tutor ; a
junior who instructs an ignorant
chief in his duties.
1614. JONSON, Bartholomew Fayre,
I. Quar. Well, this DRY NURSE, I say
still, is a delicate man.
c. 1640. [SHIRLKY], Captain Under-
wit, in Bullen's Old Plays, ii. 322. Tho.
But, sir, you must have a DRY NURSE, as
many Captaines have. Let me see : I can
hire you an old limping decayed sergeant
at Brainford that taught the boyes.
1747. WALPOLE, Lett, to Mann, 10
May (1833), vt>l. II., p. 292. This curious
Minister . . . used to ... walk in the
Park with their daughters, and once went
DRY-NURSE to Holland with them.
1852. F. E. SMEDLE*, Lewis
Arundel, ch. xxy. Oh, some poor devil
old Grant has picked up cheap as DRY-
NURSE to his pet idiot . . . half valet, half
tutor.
1868. BREWER, Phrase and Fable,
s.v. When a superior officer does not
know his duty, and is instructed in it by
an inferior officer, he is said to be dry-
nursed. The inferior nurses the superior
as a DRY-NURSE rears an infant.
DRY- ROOM, subs, (thieves'). — A
prison. For synonyms, see CAGE.
DRY - SHAVE, subs, (common). —
Rubbing the chin with the
fingers ; also used as a verb.
The action implies a certain
effrontery.
DRY-UP, subs, (theatrical). — A
failure or COLUMBUS (q.v.) ; con-
trast with DRAW, sense 2.
Verb (colloquial). — To cease
talking ; to abandon a purpose or
position ; to stop work. As an
interjection = Hold your jaw !
1865. The Index, 2 Feb. With
which modest contribution we DRY UP
with reference to the subject.
1872. Daily Telegraph, 4 July. An
audience which should cause defeated
Boston to hang her diminished head, DRY
UP, and feel small.
1876. C. HINDLEY, Life and Adven-
tures of a Cheap Jack, p. 69. 1 must
DRY UP for the fellow's bested me.
1884. Cornhill Mag., June, p. 617.
DRY UP ! is the slangy and impatient
exclamation with which he cuts short the
occasional attempts of his mother to lecture
him.
1887. O. W. HOLMES, Our Hundred
Days, p. 131. There were frequent . . in-
terruptions, something like these : ' That
will do, sir j; or, ' You had bette/ stop, sir ! '
. . . With us it would have been DRY UP !
or Hold on !
1888. R. HAGGARD, Mr. Meesoris
Will [in Illus. Land. News, Summer No.
p. 3, col. i]. He . . . suddenly DRIED UP
Dry- walking.
335
Dubsman.
as he noticed the ominous expression on
the great man's brow.
DRY-WALKING, subs, (military). —
A hard-up soldier's outing.
D- T's., subs. phr. (common). —
Deliriitm tremens. For syno-
nyms, see JIM-JAMS. Also THE
D. T.= Daily Telegraph.
1864. Soiled Dove, p. 266. I wish to
God I could get D. T., and then I should
go mad and cut my throat, or pitch myself
out of the window.
1868. Public Opinion, i Aug. Fright-
ful diseases, one of the commonest of
which is jocularly spoken of by tipplers
as D. T.
1 880. G.R.SiMS, Ballads of Babylon
(Beauty and Beast). — And had sold her
child to a titled churl, Who had just got
round from a bad D.T.
1883. Globe, j July, p. i, col. 5. One
of the daily papers, which boasts the
largest circulation in the world, is familiar
to all as the D.T.
1887. JAS. PAYN, Glow-worm Tales,
vol. i., p. 209. As certain as D.T. is the
end of drinking.
DUB, subs. (old). — i. A key;
specifically a master key. [From
DUP or DUB, to open ; to do up ;
see verb, sense.] For synonyms,
see LOCKSMITH'S DAUGHTER.
1789. GEO. PARKER, Life's Painter,
p. 153. A bunch of young DUBS by her
side, which are a bunch of small keys.
1821. D. HAGGART, Life, Glossary,
p. 171. DUB, a key.
1839. HARRISON AINSWORTH, Jack
Sheppard [1889], p. 39. That's the kinchin
as was to try the DUB for us, ain't it? mut-
tered Smith.
Verb (old).— To open, ' DUB
your mummer' = Open your mouth.
C/., DUBBER; ' DUB the jigger ' =
open the door.— See quot., 1848.
Also by confusion, to shut or
fasten.
1567. HARMAN Caveat [E. E. T. Soc..
1869], p. 85. DUP the gygger, and maund
that is bene shyp.
1596. SHAKSPEARE, Hamlet, Act iv.
Sc. 5. Then up he rose and donned his
clothes, and DUPPED the chamber door.
1848. DUNCOMBE, Sinks of London
Laid Open, p. 106. DUB the jigger, fasten
the door.
DUB AT A KNAPPING JIGGER, subs.
phr. (old). — A turnpike keeper.
1812. VAUX, Flash Diet., s.v.
DUBBER, subs, (old).— i. The mouth
or tongue ; mum your DUBBER =
hold your tongue. (Cf., DUB
YOUR MUMMER, under DUB).
1789. GEO. PARKER, Life's Painter,
p. 150. DUBBER mum'd. To keep your
mouth shut, or be obliged to hold your
tongue.
2. (old). — A picklock. [From
DUB, akey + ER.] — Grose, 1785.
DUB-COVE.— See DUBSMAN.
DUB- LAY, subs, (old).— Using pick-
locks. [From DUB (q.v. ), a key
+ LAY (q.v.).}— Grose, 1785.
DUBLIN-DISSECTOR, subs, (medical
students'). — A cudgel.
1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 154. At first
he perpetually carries a DUBLIN DISSECTOR
under his arm.
DUBS, adj. (Winchester College). —
Double.
DUBSMAN, or DUBS, subs. (old). —
A turnkey or gaoler. [From DUB
(q.v.) = key + MAN.]
1812. VAUX, Flash Diet., s.v.
1887. HENLEY, Villon's Good Night.
For you, you coppers' narks, and DUBS,
What pinched me when upon the snam.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Jigger-
dubber ; screw.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. — Un
gaffier (thieves'); un gaffe
Dub-up.
336
Duck.
(thieves' = boat hook) ; un oncle
( thieves' = uncle ) ', un boye
(thieves' : also an executioner at
Cayenne or New Caledonia) ; le
Due de Guiche (thieves' : from
guichettier = jailer) ; un artoiipan
( thieves' ) ; un barbeaudier
(thieves') ; le Comte de Castue
(thieves' : Castue = prison) ; un
chat (thieves' = a cat ) ; le Comte
de Canton (thieves' : Canton =
prison or ' stir ') ; le Comte de la
Caruche (thieves').
SPANISH SYNONYMS. — Banas-
tero (= basket-maker) ; banquero
(= banker).
1839. HARRISON AINSWORTH, Jack
Sheppard [1889], 30. Quoth a DUBSMAN,
who gazed on the shattered wall, ' You
have carved your epitaph, Claude du Val,
With your chisel so fine, tra la 1 '
DUB UP, verb. phr. (colloquial). —
To hand over ; pay ; fork out.
[Cf., provincial DUBS =• money.]
Fr. , f oncer ; abouler. Formerly,
to lock up or secure ; to button
one's pocket.
1840. Comic Almanack, p. 237.
Come, DUB UP ! roars a third : and I don't
mind telling you, in confidence, that I was
so frightened that I took out the sovereign
and gave it.
DUCATS, subs, (theatrical). — I.
Money. [Probably from Shylock
and The Merchant of Venice.'}
For synonyms, see ACTUAL and
GILT.
1853. WH. MELVILLE, Digby Grand,
ch. vi. The Jews have always appeared to
me a calumniated race. From spendthrift
King John downwards, the Christian has
ever pocketed the DUCATS, and abused the
donor.
2. (thieves'). — Specifically a
railway ticket ; also pawnbroker's
duplicate ; raffle-card, or BRIEF
(q.v.}. Also DUCKET.
1879. J.W. YLoRSLEY,inMacm.Mag.,
xl., 501. So I took a DUCAT (ticket) for
Sutton in Surrey.
DUCE, subs. (old). — Twopence.
[From the Latin.]
1812. VAUX, Flash Diet., s.v.
1823. MONCRIEFF, Tom and Jerry,
ii., 6. If any body offers you less nor a
mag, or a DUCE, vy, you may say with
the poet, Who vou'd his farthings bear?
ven he himself might his quivetus make
vith a bare bodkin,
DUCK, subs, (common). — i. Scraps
of meat ; otherwise BLOCK-ORNA-
MENTS, STICKI NGS, FAGGOTS,
MANABLINS, or CHUCK (q.^.\
2. (Winchester College).— The
face. To MAKE A DUCK = to
make a grimace. For synonyms,
see DIAL.
3. (common). — A ' draw ' or
decoy. [An abbreviation of
DECOY-duck.]
4. (colloquial). — A term of
endearment ; also used in admira-
tion ; e.g. i a DUCK of a bonnet.
Also DUCKY : DUCK OF DIA-
MONDS being a superlative. For
synonyms, see MY TULIP.
1837. Comic Almanack, p. 78. You
won't grudge your poor rib a few ribbons,
will you, DUCK?
1841. LEMAN REDE, Sixteen String
Jack, i., 2. Nel. Oh, isn't he a DUCK of a
fellow ? Bob. He's the very flower of the
flock.
1846. Punch, vol. XL, p. 164. Though
somewhat out at elbows, he's what the
ladies call a ' DUCK.'
5. (cheap jacks:). — A metal-
cased watch; i.e., old watch
movements in German silver
cases.
1876. C. HINDLEY, Life and Ad-vent,
of Cheap Jack, p. 38. What appeared to
the roughs a fine old English and valuable
watch, but what in reality was an almost
worthless DUCK.
TO MAKE A DUCK, or DUCK'S
EGG, verb. phr. (cricketers'). —
To make no score ; Cf., To
Ducket.
337
Ducks.
CRACK ONE'S EGG, and PAIR OF
SPECTACLES. [From the shape
of the 'O.']
1868. St. Paufs Magazine, Aug.
You see by the twitch of the hand, the
glove rapidly raised to the face, and re-
placed on the bat-handle, the jerk of the
elbow, and perhaps the uneasy lifting of
the foot, that his fear of a DUCK — as, by a
pardonable contraction from ' DUCK'S-EGG,'
— a nought is called in cricket play — etc.
1870. London Figaro, 21 June. J.
C. Shaw is a host in himself; he took six
wickets, and all of them for DUCKS.
1872. Weekly Dispatch, g June. The
next ball from Brice sends Caffyn's bails
flying : and out comes the last man — South-
erton — and he is used to DUCK'S EGGS.
1883. Echo, 15 May, p. 4, col. 2.
Out of the eleven Surrey batsmen who
played against Notts yesterday, no less
than five were credited with DUCKS.
DUCK THAT RUNS, or GRINDS
THE GOSPEL MILL, subs. phr.
(American). — A clergyman. For
synonyms, see DEVIL-DODGER.
1869. S. L. CLEMENS (' Mark Twain ')
Innocents at Home, p. 17, 18. Are you
the DUCK THAT RUNS THE GOSPEL MILL
NEXT DOOR ?
LAME DUCK (q.v. post).
GERMAN DUCK {q.v. post).
To DO A DUCK, verb. phr.
(thieves'). — To hide under the
seat of a public conveyance with
a view to avoid paying the fare.
[From DUCK = to bow or stoop.]
1889. Sporting Times. DOIN' A
DUCK, macin' the rattler, ridin' on the cheap,
on the odno, under the bloomin' seat.
DUCKET. — See DUCAT.
DUCK-FOOTED, adj. phr. (common).
— Said of people who walk like a
duck; i.e., with the toes turned
inwards.
DUCKING. To GO DUCKING, verb,
phr. (common). — To go courting.
[From DUCK (q.v.) = a term of
endearment + ing.] See GOOSE-
AND-DUCK.
DUCKS, subs, (colloquial). — I. Linen
trousers ; generally WHITE DUCKS.
[From the material and colour.]
At Eton worn only by men in the
boats. For synonyms, see BAGS
and KICKS.
ia35. DICKENS, Sketches by Boz,
p. 248. There's our man, Tom ; he can
have a pair of DUCKS of mine, and a check
shirt of Bob's.
1846. Punch,\o\. X.,p. 263. I wore
my Russian DUCKS, In their beautiful
WHITENESS.
1888. MRS. MUSGRAVE, Savage
London. Billy should do the thing proper,
and be married in a pair of white DUCKS.
2. (Stock Exchange]. — Ayles-
bury Dairy Co. shares.
3. (Anglo-Indian). — Officials
of the Bombay service.
CHANCE THE DUCKS (q.v.,
ante. )
TO MAKE DUCKS AND DRAKES
OF ONE'S MONEY, verb. phr.
(common). — To squander money
as lavishly as stones are squandered
at ' ducks and drakes. ' [In allusion
to the childish game. Lempriere
(Art. Scipio Africanusthe Younger)
refers to Scipio and Lselius taking
to ' ducks and drakes ' as a sup-
plementary recreation to shell-
gathering, and an early notice of
the game occurs in Minucius Felix
(Octavius cap. iii.): — From the
beach they choose a shell, thin
and polished by the waves ; they
hold it in a horizontal position, and
then whirl it along as near the
surface of the sea as possible, so
as to make it skim the surge in
its even motion, or spring up and
22
Duck's-Bill.
338
Duds.
bound from time to time out of
the water. That boy is conqueror
whose shell both runs out farthest
and bounds oftenest.] Variants
are To BLUE ONE'S PILE ; TO
SWEAT (g.v.}. Fr., galvauder;
manger sa legitime.
1605. CHAPMAN, etc., Eastward
Hoe ! Act i. Do nothing, be like a gentle-
man, be idle . . . MAKE DUCKS AND
DRAKES with shillings.
1664. H. PEACHAM, Worth of a
Penny, in Arber's Garner, vol. VI., p.
259. I remember, in Queen Elizabeth's
time, a wealthy citizen of London left his
son a mighty estate in money ; who,
imagining he should never be able to spend
it, would usually MAKE ' DUCKS AND
DRAKES' in the Thames, with Twelve
pences [ = $/- now], as boys are wont to do
with tile sherds and oyster shells.
d. 1680. S. BUTLER, Character of a
Miser, in Remains, vol. II., p. 343 (ed.
1759). And he that MADE DUCKS AND
DRAKES with his Money enjoyed it every
way as much.
WARD, London Spy, pt. xvi.,
p. 372. They hook in the old fool again TO
MAKE DUCKS AND DRAKES with his money.
1700. Gentleman Instructed, p. 18.
I would neither fawn on money for money's
sake, nor DUCK AND DRAKE it away for a
frolick.
1849. THACKERAY, Pendennis, ch.
Iviii. We've tied up the property, so that
he can't MAKE DUCKS AND DRAKES with
it.
1858. MARIAN EVANS (G. Eliot),
Janet's Repentance, ch. xxv. They say
Mrs. Dempster will have as good as six
hundred a year at least. . , . It's well if
she doesn't MAKE DUCKS AND DRAKES of
it somehow.
DUCK'S- BILL, subs, (printers'). — A
tongue cut in a piece of stout
paper and pasted on at the bottom
of the tympan sheet. [From the
shape. ]
DUCKY or DUCK OF DIAMONDS. —
See DUCK, sense 4.
DUDDER, DUDSMAN, or DUFFER,
subs. (old). — A pedlar of so-
called smuggled wares — gown-
pieces, silk waistcoats, etc.
The term and practice are both
obsolete, though in a few sea-
ports, London especially, they
survived till recently in a modi-
fied form. [From DUDS (q.v.)
= clothes.] Fr., un marottier
(thieves'). See also WHISPERING
DUDDER and BARROW-MAN.
1781. G. PARKER, View of Society,
II., 160. A DUDDER happened some time
ago to meet a countryman in a dark lane,
and sold him a waistcoat-piece for two
guineas and a half, which stood himself in
only four-and-sixpence.
DUDE, subs. (American).— A swell ;
fop; 'masher.' For synonyms,
se: DANDY. [From Scots DUDS
= clothes ; Cf.,quot., 1870.] De-
rivatives are DUDETTE and Du-
DINETTE = a young girl affecting
the airs of a belle ; DUDINE = a
female masher.
1870. Putnam's Magazine, Feb.
Think of her ? I think she is dressed like a
DUD ; can't say how she would look in the
costume of the present century.
1883. Graphic, 31 March, p. 319, col.
i. The one object for which the DUDE ex-
ists is to tone down the eccentricities of
fashion. . . . The silent, subfuse, subdued
' DUDE ' hands down the traditions of good
form.
1889. Puck's Library, April, p. 3.
For the front rows two styles are recom-
mended— DUDE, No. 16, and Bald-headed
Man, No. 41 — both original in design and
exquisite in finish.
DUDE HAM FATTER, subs. phr.
(American). — A wealthy pig-
jobber. [From DUDE, a swell +
HAM FATTER, in allusion to occu-
pation.]
1888. New York National Police
Gazette. It seems that the DUDE HAM-
PATTERS, after trying various games to
skip unseen, conceived the idea of making
up as a couple of well-dressed women.
DUDS, subs, (colloquial). — Clothes;
sometimes old clothes or rags.
[Scots dud, Dutch todde, a rag ;
Duds.
339
Duff.
O. E. dudde= cloth. DUDDERY
= a clothiers' booth (DE FOE'S
Tour of Gt. Brit., p. 125).]
In America applied to any
kind of portable property (Cf.,
quots., 1622, 1780, and 1884). To
ANGLE FOR DUDS, See ANGLERS;
To SWEAT DUDS = to pawn (see
SWEAT).
1440. Prompt. Parv., ed. Way, i, 134.
DUDDE, cloth.
1567. HARMAN, Caveat (1869), p. 86.
When we byng back to the deuseauyel, we
wyll fylche some DUDDES of the Ruffemans.
1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all,
p. 38 (H. Club's Repr., 1874). DUDES,
clothes.
1622. HEAD AND KIRKMAN, English
Rogue. ' Canting Song.' For all your
DUDS [goods] are binged avast.
1780. R. TOMLINSON, Slang Pastoral,
IX. No DUDS in my pocket, no sea-coal
to burn.
1787. GROSE, Prov. Glossary.
DUDDS, rags. Also clothes.
1819. MOORE, Tom Crib's Memorial,
p. 20. Doubled him up, like a bag of old
DUDS !
1822. SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel,
ch. v. A ragged rascal, every DUD upon
whose back was bidding good-day to the
other.
184L. LEMAN REDE, Sixteen String
Jack, ii. 3. Crissy, odsbuds ! I'll on with
my DUDS.
1871. New York Tribune, 23 Jan.
The three [railway] Commissioners, in
whose appointment you had no choice,
decide that you must get out, leave your
house, bundle out your DUDS, and be off.
1881. A TROLLOPE, Marian Fay,
ch. iii. To see her children washed and
put in and out of their DUDS was perhaps
the greatest pleasure of her life.
1884, Athenceum, 19 July, p. 74, col.
2. A writer in 1784 [in Gent. Mag.,
Gomme, vol. II.] says, for instance, that
DUDS signifies rags, tatters, and that it
comes from the Celtic. We do not believe
in the derivation, but will not at present
endeavour to refute it ; we are sure the
meaning is given wrongly, though it has
the authority of Halliwell and Wedgwood
in recent times. DUDS, in the northern
dialects means smnll things, or things of
little account, whether articles of clothing,
trade, or merchandise. We have fre-
quently heard the word applied to work-
men's tools ; and in an unprinted church-
warden's account of an eastern shire we
find in the year 1501 mention of ' CLOCKE-
DUDES.' From the context it is evident
that the small wheels belonging to the
town clock are meant.
DUDS MAN. — See DUDDER.
DUES, subs. (old). — Money. To
TIP THE DUES = to pay ; to
hand over a share. For syn-
onyms, see ACTUAL and GILT.
[A colloquial extension of DUE =
toll, tribute, fee, etc.]
1812. VAUX, Flash Diet. So a thief,
requiring his share of booty from his palls,
will desire them to bring the DUES to
light.
1839. HARRISON AINSWORTH, Jack
Sheppard [1889], p. 13. Will he come
down with the DUES.
DUFF, verb (thieves').— I. Specifi-
cally, to sell flashy goods as
pretended contraband or stolen ;
hence to cheat. DUFFERS, or
MEN AT THE DUFF = pedlars of
flash. (Cf., DUDDER). DUFFING
= the practice; used as an adjective
= spurious.
1781. G. PARKER, View of Society,
II., 158. ' The DUFF ' [smuggled goods,
so named and described in.]
1811. Lexicon Bala-tronicum. DUF-
FERS : cheats who pretend to deal in
smuggled goods, stopping all country
people, or such as they think they can
impose on ; which they frequently do, by
selling them Spital-fields goods at double
their current price.
1851-61. H. MAYHF.W, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. II., p. 23. They
have been regularly 'DUFFED' out of ihe
streets, so much cheap rubbish is made to
sell.
1888. G. R. SIMS, in Cass. Sat.
Journal, 31 March, p. 7. The MAN AT
THE DUFF palms off false jewellery as real.
2. (common). — To rub up the
nap of old clothes so as to make
them look almost as good as new.
Duffer.
340
Duke.
DUFFER = one who performs this
operation, whilst the article oper-
ated upon is also a DUFFER
by virtue of the fact itself. Cf.,
DUFFER.
DUFFER, suits, (old : now
recognised). — i. A pedlar; spe-
cifically a hawker of BRUMMAGEM
(g.v.), and so-called smuggled
goods (hence senses 2 and 3). In
the population returns of 1831
DUFFER = one who gets a living
by cheating pawnbrokers. — See
DUDDER and DUFF.
1796. COLQUHOUN, Police of the
Metropolis, p. 176. A class of sharpers
who are known by the name of DUFFERS,
who go about from house to house, and
attend public-houses, inns, and fairs,
pretending to sell smuggled goods.
1843. DICKENS, Martin Chuzzleivit,
ch. xxxvii., p. 361. Nor did it mark him
out as the prey of ring droppers, pea and
thimble-riggers, DUFFERS, touters, or any
of those bloodless sharpers, who are, per-
haps, a little better known to the police.
1849. THACKERAY, Pendennis, ch. Ix.
Now it is a fact that Colonel Altamont had
made a purchase of cigars and French silks
from some DUFFERS in Fleet Street about
this period.
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. i., p. 413. An intel-
ligent street-seller, versed in all the arts
and mysteries of this trade, told me that he
understood by a DUFFER, a man who sold
goods under false pretences, making out
that they were smuggled, or even stolen,
so as to enhance the idea of their cheapness.
2. (colloquial). — Anything (or
person) worthless ; anything sham.
[From sense I.]
d. 1845. HOOD [quoted in Annandale].
DUFFERS (if I may use a slang term which
has now become classical, and which has
no exact equivalent in English proper) are
generally methodical and old. Fosset cer-
tainly was a DUFFER.
1869. MRS. H. WOOD, Roland Yorke,
ch. xi. Don't you think, Hamish, he must
have been a great DUFFER to go and marry
before he knew how he could keep a wife ?
1872. Standard, 12 Sept. 'Who is
to blame ? ' we ask, in the interests of our
government, and natural curiosity. ' That
DUFFER in feathers' is the curt reply,
pointing with the finger of scorn at one
hero whom we had mistaken for something
little short of a field marshal.
JL877. Five Years' Penal Servitude,
ch. iv., p. 264. I'd several sovs. — good ones
— with me, and also a whole lot of DUFFERS.
1884. HAWLEY SMART, From Post to
Finish, p. 10. He made no bones about
calling her stupid, and was more apt to call
her a little DUFFER than to sympathise with
her when she got into trouble.
1889. A nswers, 29 June, p. 66, col. r.
If the note is a genuine one the water-mark
will then stand out plainly. If a DUFFER
it will almost disappear.
3. (nautical). — A female
smuggler.
DUFFER-OUT, verb. phr. (Austra-
lian miners'). — To get exhausted.
1887. FINCH - HATTON, Advance
Australia. He then reported to the
shareholders that the lode had DUFFERED
OUT, and that it was useless to continue
working.
DUFFING, ///. adj. (colloquial). —
False ; counterfeit ; worthless ;
Cf., DUFF and DUFFER.
1862. London Herald, 27 Dec.
'Answers to Correspondents.' Houses
burdened with ninety years' repairing
leases and heavy ground rents are run up
by the 'DUFFING' builder, merely for
sale.
1873. Times, Jan. We know now
that so-called ' DUFFING ' jewellery is
scattered far and wide over the land.
1877. Five Years\ Penal Servitude,
ch. iii., p. 239. A 'shise' half-bull and a
* DUFFING ' tanner : half-a-crown and a
sixpence quietly palmed off on this man
out of his half-sovereign.
DUGS, subs. (old). — The paps ; once
used without reproach of women ;
now only in contempt, except of
animals. [From same stem as
'daughter.'] For synonyms, see
DAIRY.
DUKE, subs, (old).— i. Gin.
synonyms, see DRINKS.
For
Duke Humphrey. 34 1
Dumbfound.
1859. SAL A, Gaslight and Daylight,
ch. xxiii. The stuff itself, which in the
Western gin-shops goes generally by the
name of 'blue ruin/ or 'short,' is here
called . . . DUKE.
2. (cabmen's). — A horse. For
synonyms, see PRAD.
3. (thieves'). — Any transaction
in the shape of a burglary ; e.g.,
' I was Jemminy to their DUKE ' =
* I was privy to the robbery.'
DUKE HUMPHREY. TODINEWITH
DUKE HUMPHREY. — See DINE.
DUKE OF LIMBS, subs. phr. (com-
mon).— An awkward, uncouth
man ; specifically one with un-
gainly limbs. [Gtwt, 1785.]
DUKE OF YORK, verb. phr. (rhyming
slang). — To walk ; also, to talk.
DUKES, subs, (common). — The
hands. For synonyms, see BUNCH
OF FIVES and DADDLE.
1879. J. W. HORSLEY, in Macm.
Mag., xl., 501. So I said I would not go
at all if he put his DUKES (hands) on me.
1888. Lie. Viet. Gazette, 27 Jan.,
p. 55, 3. The men . . . put up their
DUKES to fight for supremacy.
TO GREASE THE DUKES, Verb.
phr. (common). — To bribe ; also
to pay.
1883. J. W. HORSLEY, Jottings from
Jail. I went to him and asked him if he
was not going TO GREASE MY DUKE.
To PUT UP THE DUKES, verb,
phr. (common). — To put up one's
hands for combat.
1885. Home Tidings, p. 369. ' Box-
ing Club Report.' The two contestants
PUT UP THEIR DUKES, and soon warmed up
to their work.
DUKEY. — See DOOKIE and GAFF.
DULCAMARA, subs, (colloquial). — A
quack-doctor. [From the name
of a character in Donizetti's
V Elixir d1 Amour (1845).]
DULL IN THE EYE, adv. phr.
(common). — Intoxicated. For
synonyms, see DRINKS and
SCREWED.
DULL-SWIFT, subs. (old). — A slug-
gish messenger.
DUMB- FOGG ED,///, adj. (common).
— Confused.
DUMB- FOOZLED, ppl.adj. (common).
— Confounded ; puzzled.
1883. HAWLEY SMART, At Fault,
I., x., 240. Considering you built the
theatre, it struck me you weren't very good
at finding your way about, you seemed
regularly DUMBFOOZLED.
DUMBFOUND, DUMFOUND, verb
(Also DUMBFOUNDING, subs.,
DUMBFOUNDED or DUMFOUND-
ERED [Scots], adj. [Old Slang, now
colloquial]). — To perplex ; to con-
found.
1690. DRYDEN, Prologue to Prophetess.
Then think on that bare bench my servant
sat. I see him ogle still, and hear him
chat. Selling facetious bargains, and
propounding That witty recreation called
DUMBFOUNDING.
1703. WARD, London Spy, pt. xvi.,
p. 379. This unexpected retort of the
parsons, quite DUMB-FOUNDED the Quaker.
1706. R. ESTCOURT, Fair Example,
Act. III., Sc. i., p. 30. And if I can but
DUMB-FOUND my husband with a dream, I
shall be able to make my word good.
1714. Spectator, No. 616. They
grew a little mutinous for more liquor.
They had like to have DUMFOUNDED the
justice ; but his clerk came in to his
assistance.
1766. MORTIMER, FalstatfsWedding,
I., ii. They let fly their jests so thick at
me, and peppered me so plaguily with
small wit, that I was DUMFOUNDED.
1855. A. TROLLOPE, The Warden,
ch. xi. At any other time how exquisitely
valuable would have been that touch ! but
now he was distraught, DUMB-FOUNDED,
and unmanned.
Dumb -Glutton. 342 Dummy-Daddle-Dodge.
1861. H. KINGSLEY, Ravenshoe, ch.
v. He utterly DUM FOUNDERED Charley,
by asking abruptly 'How's Jim?'
1880. G. R. SIMS, Three Brass Balls,
Pledge xx. White as a ghost, DUMB-
FOUNDERED, and trembling, Dan attempted
to explain that he was innocent.
1882. Democracy, ch. vii. She lost
her command of thought, and sat DUMB-
FOUNDED.
1883. W. E. NORRIS, Thirlby Hall,
ch. ix. I was too DUMBFOUNDERED to
speak.
DUMB-GLUTTON, subs, (venery). —
The female pudendum. For syno-
nyms, see MONOSYLLABLE.
DUMB-SQUINT, subs, (venery). —
The female pudendum. For syno-
nyms, ste MONOSYLLABLE.
Du MM ACKER, subs. (old). — A
knowing person. For synonyms,
see DOWNY COVE.
DUM MERER. — See DOMMERAR.
DUM MOCK, subs, (common). — The
posteriors. For synonyms, see
MONOCULAR EYE-GLASS.
DUMMY, subs, (colloquial). — A deaf
mute ; also an idiot ; sometimes
a DUFFER, sense 2.
c. 1884. G. R. SIMS, Dagonet Ballads
( Mo tt Jaruis). And she left us like open-
mouthed DUMMIES a-waggin' our heads at
the moon.
2. (colloquial). — Generic for
sham substitutes for real objects :
e.$., empty bottles and drawers in
an apothecary's shop ; wooden
half-tubs of butter, bladders of
lard, hams, cheeses, and so forth;
DUMMIES in libraries generally
take the form of works not likely
to tempt the general reader.
Hence, by implication, anything
sham.
1846. Punch, vol. XL, p. 185. A
DUMMY list of Causes has long since been
preferred, to enable Thompson to ascertain
whether ' we are retained on the other side
when a brief is brought on behalf of either
party.
1856. H. MAYHEW, Gt. World q/
London, p. 112. The doorway is set
round with sprucely-dressed 'DUMMIES' of
young gentlemen that have their gloved
ringers spread out like bunches of
radishes.
1869. MRS. H. WOOD, Roland Yorke,
ch. ix. The large imposing stock turned
out to be three parts DUMMIES.
1871. Daily News. 'Leader,' 28
April. The Bill is not yet in the hands of
members or public, the document placed
on the table of the Lords being what is, in
parliamentary slang, called a ' DUMMY.'
3. (cards'). — The open hand at
an imperfect game of whist
1853. LYTTON, My Novel, bk. XL,
ch. iv. We might cheer the evening with
a game at whist — double DUMMY.
4. (thieves'). — A pocket book.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue.
Frisk the DUMMEE of the screens = take all
the bank notes out of the pocket book :
Ding the DUMMEE, and bolt, they sing out
beef = Throw away the pocket book, and
run off, as they call out ' stop thief.'
1834. H. AINSWORTH, Rook-wood,
bk. III., ch. v. He is caught— he must
' stand and deliver ' ; Then out with the
DUMMY, and off with the bit [money].
1878. CHARLES HINDLEY, Life and
Times of James Catnach. (Chorus) —
Speak to the tattler, bag the swag, And
finely hunt the DUMMY.
[Other colloquial usages are: (i)
= dumb-waiter ; (2) = a locomotive fur-
nished with condensing engines, and hence
without the noise of escaping steam ;
(3) = a fireman's term for a jet from the
main or chief water pipe ; (4) = a hatter's
pressing iron : Cf., tailor's GOOSE ; (5) =
a piece of cloth rolled tight and saturated
with oil, for rubbing hard places to be cut ;
(6) = an actor or actress who has nothing
to say, etc.]
DUMMY-DADDLE DODGE, subs. phr.
(thieves'). — Picking pockets under
cover of a sham hand or DADDLE
1883. GREENWOOD, in Daily Telegraph.
Asked by the friendly warder what he
thought of the DUMMY-DADDLE DODGE,
Dummy- Hunter.
343
Dun.
Mr. Mobbs said he ratber thought that
game was played out. A woman, he pro-
ceeded to explain, can work with a DUMMY-
DADDLE in an omnibus or a railway car-
riage much better than a man, because,
without appearing conspicuous, she can
wear any kind of loose shawl or cloak as
concealment for her real hand.
DUMMY-HUNTER, subs. (old). — A
pickpocket who confined his
operations to pocket-books . [From
DUMMY (g.v.) = a. pocket book +
HUNTER.]
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
s.v.
1834. H. AINSWORTH, Rookivood
[ed. 1884! p. 89. No DUMMY HUNTER had
forks so fly, No knuckler so deftly could
fake a cly.
1843. Punch, vol. IV., p. 129. While
ears are cramm'd with humbug, boys ! The
DUMMY-HUNTERS ply An easy trade.
DUMP, subs. (old). — A metal coun-
ter.
Verb (colloquial). — I. To
throw down so as to produce a
heavy noise : e.g., to DUMP down
coals.
2. (Winchester College).— To
put OUt. 'DUMP THE TOLLY ! ' =
Extinguish the candle !
DUMP FENCER, subs. (old). — A
button-merchant.
DUMPIES, subs, (military). — The
Nineteenth Hussars. [From the
diminutive size of the men when
the regiment was first raised.]
Obsolete. DUMPY = squat or
undersized.
DUMPLING-DEPOT, subs, (common).
— The stomach. For synonyms,
see BREAD-BASKET.
DUMPLING-SHOP, subs, (common).
— The paps. For synonyms, see
DAIRY.
DUMPS, subs, (common). — Money.
For synonyms, see ACTUAL and
GILT.
1837. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends
(Sir Rupert). May I venture to say when
a gentleman jumps In the river at midnight
for want of the DUMPS He rarely puts on
his knee-breeches and pumps.
IN THE DUMPS, adv. phr.
(colloquial). — Cast down ; ill at
ease ; unpleasantly situate.
1592. GREENE, Groatsworth of Wit,
in wks. xii., 115. Whence spring these
DUMPS?
1596. JONSON, Every Man in His
Humour, III., iii. How now, Master
Knowell, IN DUMPS, IN DUMPS ! Come,
this becomes not.
1600. SHAKSPEARE, Much Ado about
Nothing, ii., 3. Sing no more ditties, sing
no mo Of DUMPS'SO dull and heavy.
1711. Spectator, No. 176. When I
come home she is IN THE DUMPS, because
she says she is sure I came so soon only
because I think her handsome.
1717. MRS. CENTLIVRE, Bold Stroke
for a Wife, v., i. What art thou IN THE
DUMPS for?
1771. FOOTE, Maid of Bath, II.
She seems got quite i' THE DUMPS.
1847. W. B. RHODES, Bombastes
Furioso, p. 19. My happiness is chang'd
to doleful DUMPS, Whilst, merry Michael,
all thy cards were trumps.
1855. TRENCH, English, Past and
Present (2nd ed.), p. 131. In the great
ballad of Chevy-Chase a noble warrior,
whose legs are hewn off, is described as
being IN DOLEFUL DUMPS. Holland's trans-
lation of Livy represents ihe Romans as
being IN THE DUMPS after the battle of
Cannae. It was in elegant use then.
1885. Daily Telegraph, 19 Jan., p. 5,
col. 2. Everybody who suffers now and
then from a fit of THE DUMPS is counselled
to read amusing books.
DUN, subs, and verb (originally
slang : now recognised). — An im-
portunate creditor ; to persist
in demanding payment. [A. S.
dynian = to clamour, to din ;
possibly influenced by the memory
of a certainjoe Dunn, a famous
Dim.
344
Dung.
English bailiff, temp. Henry VII.]
Fr., un loup ( = wolf) ; un Anglais
= an Englishman). Also DUN-
NER and DUNNING.
1663. T. KILLEGREW, Parson's Wed-
ding, III., v., in Dodsley, O.P. (1780), xi.,
452. We shall have the sport, and be
revenged upon the rogue for DUNNING a
gentleman in a tavern.
1675. WYCHERLEY, Country Wife, I.,
in wks. (1713), 136. The most insatiable
sorts of DUNS, that invade our lodgings in
a morning.
1677. WYCHERLEY, Plain Dealer,
Act V., Sc. ii. Man. No, no. Those
you have obliged most, most certainly
avoid you, when you can oblige 'em no
longer ; and they take your visits like so
many DUNS.
1678. C. COTTON, Scarronides, bk.
i., p. 43 (ed. 1725). Have what you want,
nor will I DUN ye, But pay me when you
can get mony.
1 707. FARQU H AR, Beaux Stratagem,
Act III., Sc. iii. I remember the good days
when we could DUN our masters for our
wages, and if they refused to pay us, we
could have a warrant to carry 'em before a
Justice.
1712. Spectator, No. 454. Though
they never buy, they are ever talking of
new silks, laces, and ribbons, and serve the
owners, in getting them customers as their
common DUNNERS do in making them pay.
1731. Daily Journal, 9 Jan. ['List
of the officers established in the most
notorious gaming -ho uses. '] gth. : A DU N NER,
who goes about to recover money lost at
play.
1742. FIELDING, Joseph Andrews,
bk. III., ch. iii. Poverty and distress,
with their horrid train of DUNS, attorneys,
bailiffs, haunted me day and night.
1777. SHERIDAN, Trip to Scarborough,
Act I., Sc. ii. What, hast spent all, eh?
And art thou come to DUN his lordship for
assistance ?
1821. ScoTTj Kenil-worth, ch. xv.
I refused him admittance as flatly, Blount,
as you would refuse a penny to a blind
beggar ; as obstinately, Tracy, as thou
didst ever deny access to a DUN.
1838. DICKENS, Nicholas Nickleby,
ch. ix., p. 66. To fetch three new boys,
and DUN the relations of two old ones for
the balance of a small account.
1888. C. J. DUNPHIE, The Chameleon ,
p. 6. DUNNING for payment which may not
be convenient to them, and which would
in no sense conduce to the honour of the
DUNNERS.
DUNAKER, subs. (old). — A cattle-
lifter.
16(?). Poem of i7th Century (quoted
by Nares). The seventeenth a DUN-AKER,
that maketh his vows To go i' the country
and steal all their cows.
1693. ~KERRICK.(' Poorfiobin'). Mer-
cury is in a conjunction with Venus, and
when such conjunctions happen, it signifies
a most plentiful crop that year, of hectors
.... DONNAKERS, cross-biters, etc.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicunt, s.v.
DUNDERHEAD, subs. (old). —A fool.
For synonyms, see BUFFLE and
CABBAGE-HEAD.
DUNDREARY, subs, and adj. (collo-
quial).— Specifically, a stammer-
ing, foolish, and long- whiskered
fop — the Lord Dundreary of Our
American Cousin ( 1 8 s8) — gener-
ally, a foppish fool. Cf. , JUBILEE
JUGGINS.
1876. JAS. GRANT, One of the Six
Hundred, ch. iii. His whole air had the
' used up ' bearing of those miserable DUN-
DREARYS who affect to act as if youth,
wealth, and luxury were the greatest
calamities that flesh is heir to, and that
life itself was a bore.
DUN DREARIES, subs, (colloquial).
— A pair of whiskers cut sideways
from the chin, and grown as long
as possible. A fashion (now
obsolete) suggested by Sothern's
make -up in Our American Cousin.
1882. F. ANSTEY, Vice-Versa, ch.
xvii. Bushy black whiskers, more like the
antiquated DUNDREARY type than modern
fashion permits.
DUNG, subs, (workmen's). — An
operative working for less than
' society ' wages. Formerly, ac-
cording to Grose, ' a journeyman
taylor who submits to the law for
regulating journey-men's taylors'
Dung- Fork.
345
Dust.
wages, therefore deemed by the
FLINTS (q.v.) a co ward.'
DUNG-FORK (also DUNG-CART),
subs, (colloquial). — A country
bumpkin. For synonyms, see
JOSKIN.
DUN-IN-THE-MI RE, subs.phr. (obso-
lete). —An antiquated game.
1595. SHAKSPEARE, Romeo and Juliet,
i., 4. Mercutio. If thou art DUN we'll
draw thee from the MIRE Of this (save
reverence) love, wherein thou stick'st Up
to the ears.
DUNNAGE, subs, (nautical). — Bag-
gage ; clothes. Cf., DUDS. [Pro-
perly wood or loose fagots laid
across the hold of a vessel, or
stuffed between packages to keep
cargo from damage by water or
shifting.]
1849. J. F. COOPER, The Sea Lions,
ch. v. Not only was the chest more than
half empty, but the articles it did contain
were of the coarsest materials . . . ' There
is little here to pay a man for crossing from
the Vineyard,' observed Roswell Gardiner
. . . ' What is to be done with all this
DUNNAGE, deacon ? '
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol, i., p. 262. If they
can meet with . . . the young ladies, they
' put it on them for DUNNAGE' (beg a stock
of general clothing.)
DUNN AKIN or DUNNYKEN, subs.
(old). — A privy; in U.S.A., a
chamber-pot. For synonyms, see
BURY and MRS. JONES.— [GROSE
-1785-]
(back-slang). — A
DUNOP, subs.
pound.
DUP, verb (old). — To open.
1567. HARMAN, Caveat (T&\$, p. 66.
To DUP ye gyger, to open the dore.
1596. SHAKSPEARE, Hamlet, iv.
And DUPPED the chamber door.
1609. DEKKER, Lanthome and Can-
dlelight. If we ... DUP but the ginger
of a country-cove'-, ken, from thence at the
chats we trine in the Lightmans.
1665. R. HEAD, English Rogue, pt.
I., ch. v.,p. 49 (1874), s.v.
1691. Academia, quoted in Notes
and Queries, 6 S., xii., 416. Beside, it cost
me twopence more, To one that sits to DUP
a dore.
1724. E. COLES, Eng. Diet. DUP =
enter (the house).
DURHAM-MAN, subs. (old). — A
knock-kneed man.
DURIA, subs. (old). — Fire.
1857. DUCANGE ANGLICUS. The
Vulgar Tongue, s.v.
DURRYNACKER, subs. ( thie ves' ). — A
female hawker of lace ; generally
practised as an introduction to for-
tune-telling. Also PURRYNACK-
1NG. [Described in H. May-
hew's London Labor and London
Poor, vol. i., p. 472, 1851.]
DUST, subs, (common). — Money.
[Said to be from ' gold-dust,' but
this is a mere guess.]
1655. FULLER, Ch. Hist., vi., 290.
My lord, quoth the king, presently deposit
your hundred pounds in gold, or else no
going hence all the daies of your life . . .
The abbot down with his DUST; and glad
he escaped so, returned to Reading.
1671. EACHARD, Observations. If
they did intend to trade with Christ they
must down with the DUST instantly, for to
his knowledge tbe Papists did offer a vast
sum of money for England's Christ.
1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5 ed.).
DUST . . . also a cant name for money, as
down with your dust, put, pay, or lay down
your money, etc.
1834. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood,
bk. III., ch. xiii. You have thrown away
a second chance. Play or pay, all the
world over . . . Down with the DUST.
1840. Comic Almanack. 'The Dust
about the Gold Dust,' p. 217. She cried,
' Come, down, now, with your DUST ! '
1890. Welfare, March, p. 5, col. i.
1 Strange Sermons.' It is related of Dean
Swift that, preaching of charity, he com-
prised his sermon within a single short
sentence. His text was from Proverbs
xix., 17 :' He that hath pity upon the poor
Dust.
346
Dust-hole.
lendeth unto the Lord.' His treatment
of the subject consisted of the words : ' If
you approve the security, down with your
DUST I '
To DUST ONE'S JACKET, CAS-
SOCK, or COAT, verb. phr. (col-
loquial).— To thrash ; metaphor-
ically, to criticise severely. — See
quot., 1557, and (/"., BASTE.
1557. TUSSER, Husbandrie, ch. 49,
st. b., p. 107 (E.D.S.). What fault deserves
a BRUSHED COTB.
1612. Passenger of Benvenuto.
Observe, my English gentleman, that
blowes have a wonderfull prerogative in the
feminine sex ; for if shee be a bad woman,
there is no more proper plaister to mend
her, then this : but if (which is a rare chance)
she be good, to DUST her often hath in it a
singular, unknowne, and as it were an in-
scrutable vertue to make her much better,
and to reduce her, if possible, to perfection.
1698. FARQUHAR, Love and a Bottle,
Act v. , Sc. ii. Tell me presently where your
master is, sirrah, or I'll DUST the secret out
Of YOUR JACKET.
1771. SMOLLETT, Humphry Clinker,
1. 26. Prankley, shaking his cane, bid
him hold his tongue, otherwise he would
DUST HIS CASSOCK for him.
1837. BARHAM, /. L. (M. of Venice).
Old Shylock was making a racket, and
threatening how well he'd DUST EVERY MAN'S
JACKET, Who'd help'd her in getting aboard
of the packet.
1865. Saturday Review, Ap. If he
will turn to Theocritus, v., 119, he will learn
that there is a good and respectable Greek
ancestry for the cant phrase, to DUST ONE'S
JACKET:— o/ca fiav-rroKa Tti
Evfiaptdag tKdOrjpf, where iica
means, 'purgavit te,' 'dressed you,' 'gave
you a dressing,' DUSTED YOURJACKET.^ So
great is the similarity of ideas in all nations
and languages, of which, indeed, there is
abundant illustration in other passages of
Theocritus.
1872. Fun, Sept. The difference is
I DUSTS his [coat] oflf his back, and he
DUSTS mine on my back.
TO GET UP AND DUST, Or Tp
DUST OUT OF, verb. phr. (Ameri-
can).— To move quickly; to
leave hurriedly. For synonyms,
see ABSQUATULATE.
TO HAVE DUST IN THE EYES,
verb. phr. (colloquial). — To be
sleepy ; to DRAW STRAWS (q.v.}.
S^id mainly of children : e.g.,
' The DUSTMAN is coming.'
TO KICK UP, or RAISE A DUST,
verb. phr. (colloquial). — To make
a disturbance, or much ado.
1759. SMOLLETT, Letter to VVilkes,
quoted in D. Hannay's Smollett (1887),
p. 132. If the affair cannot be compromised,
we intend to KICK UP A DUST, and die hard.
1766. H. BROOKE, Fool o_f Quality,
ii., 41. Our lay and ecclesiastical cham-
pions for arbitrary power . . . have
RAISED such A DUST, and kept such a coil
about the divine, hereditary, and inde-
feasible right of kings.
1815. SCOTT, Guy Mannering, ch.
xxxiii. ' Is there not a strong room up
yonder in the old castle ? ' ' Ay, is there,
sir ; my uncle the constable once kept a
man there for three days in Auld Ellan-
gowan's time. But there was an unco-
DUST about it — it was tried in the Inner-
house afore the feifteen."
TO THROW DUST TN THE EYES,
verb. phr. (colloquial). — To mis-
lead ; to dupe. —Set BAMBOOZLE.
To BITE THE DUST, verb. phr.
(colloquial). — To knock under;
to be mortified, or shamed.
DUST -BIN, subs, (common). — A
grave.
DUSTED, ppl. adj. (colloquial). —
Drubbed ; severely criticised. — See
DusTONE'sjACKETand TANNING.
DUSTER, subs, (tailors') — A sweet-
heart. For synonyms, see JOMER.
DUST-HOLE, subs, (theatrical). — i.
The late Prince of Wale*' Theatre
in Tottenham Court Road. [From
the fact that, fifty years ago, under
the management of Mr. Glossop,
the sweepings of the house were
deposited and suffered to accumu-
late under the pit.]
Dustman.
347
Dutch.
1886. JOHN COLEMAN, in Temple
Bar, Feb., p. 225. During his management
of THE DUSTHOLE (since known as ' The
Prince of Wales's 'X in Tottenham Court
Road.
2. (University). — Sidney Sus-
sex College, Cambridge. Ob-
solete.
DUSTMAN, subs, (common). — I. A
personification of sleep : ' the
DUSTMAN'S coming' = you are
getting sleepy. Cf., DUST IN
THE EYES.
1821. PIERCE EGAN, Tom and Jerry,
p. in. A social glass of wine beguiled an
hour or two, till the DUSTMAN made his
appearance and gave the hint to Tom and
Jerry that it was time to visit their beds.
2. (old). — A dead man.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
DUSTY. NOT so DUSTY, adv. phr.
(common). — A term of approval ;
* not so bad ' ; ' so-so. '
1864. F. E. SMEDLEY, Harry Cover-
dale, ch. xlii. ' Why is the fact of the con-
tents of a backgammon-board having been
thrown out of the window like Milton's Crief
(Tceuvre ? ' Do you give it up ? ' Because
it's a pair o'dice lost.' NONE so DUSTY
that — eh? for a commoner like me?
1884. HAWLEY SMART, From Post to
Finish, p. 28. ' Well, my dear,' said
Butters in the most patronising way, ' I
know I'm NOT so DUSTY, and if it wasn't
for my disgusting weight I'd pretty soon
let 'em see at Newmarket what I can do.'
DUSTY-BOB, subs, (common). — A
scavenger.
DUSTYPOLL or DUSTY-NOB, subs.
(old). — A miller. [DUSTY, =
floury, + POLL, or NOB = the head.]
DUTCH. An epithet of inferiority.
A witness, no doubt, to the long-
standing hatred engendered by
the bitter fight for the supremacy
of the seas between England and
Holland in the seventeenth cen-
tury.
Subs. ( common ). — A wife.
[Probably an abbreviation of
DUTCH CLOCK.]
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. — Mol-
lisher ; rib ; grey -mare ; warming-
pan ; splice ; lawful blanket ;
autem-mort ; comfortable impu-
dence ; comfortable importance ;
old woman ; evil ; missus ; lawful
jam ; yoke - fellow ; night - cap ;
legitimate, or legiti ; weight-carrier;
mutton-bone ; ordinary ; pillow-
mate ; supper-table ; Dutch clock ;
chattel; sleeping-partner; doxy;
cooler ; mount ; bed-fagot.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. — Une
marque de ce (thieves') ; une
Ugitime (fam. = legitimate) ; mon
gouvernement (pop. = my old
woman) ; mon assodee (printers'
= my partner) ; mon bien (pop-
ular, bien = chattel) ; une gerce
(thieves' : also a mattress).
GERMAN SYNONYMS. — Keibe,
Keibel, Keift (al so = woman or
concubine : from O. H.G. Chebisa,
M. H. G. Kebese, Kebse = ille-
gitimate) ; Krbnerin (literally a
' horneress ' ; Krone = to be pro-
vided with horns) ; Rammenin
(Hanoverian : from the gypsy
romniri).
To DO A DUTCH, verb. phr.
(military). — To desert; to run
away. For synonyms, see AMPU-
TATE.
THAT BEATS THE DUTCH, phr.
(common). — A sarcastic superla-
tive.
177-5. Revolutionary Song [New Eng.
Hist., Reg. Ap. 1857], p. 191. And
besides all the mortars, bombs, cannons,
and shells, And bullets and guns, as the
Dutch- Auction.
348
Dutch-Feast.
newspaper tells, Our cargoes of meat,
drink, and cloaths BEAT THE DUTCH ;
Now who would not tarry and take t' other
touch?
To TALK DUTCH, DOUBLE-
DUTCH, or HIGH-DUTCH, verb,
phr. (common). — To talk gibber-
ish ; by implication, nonsense.
1604. MARLOWE, Faustus, Sc. iv.
Wag. Villain— call me Master Wagner,
and let thy left eye be diametarily fixed
upon my right heel, with quasi vestigiis
uostris insistere. Clown. God forgive me,
he SPEAKS DUTCH FUSTIAN.
1790. DIBDIN, The Sweet Little
Cherub. And, my timbers ! what lingo
he'd coil and belay, Why 'twas just all as
one as HIGH DUTCH.
1876. C. H. WALL, trans. Moliere,
vol. I., p. 116. He never taught me any-
thing but my prayers, and though I have
said them daily now these fifty years, they
are still DOUBLE DUTCH to me.
THE DUTCH HAVE TAKEN
HOLLAND, phr. (common). — A
quiz for stale news. Cf., QUEEN
BESS (or QUEEN ANNE) is DEAD;
THE ARK RESTED ON MOUNT
ARARAT, etc.
DUTCH -AUCTION or SALE, subs.
(cheap-jacks'). — A sale at mini-
mum prices ; a mock-auction.
1872. Daily Telegraph, 30 Nov.
So thoroughly corrupt and vicious has the
existing system become that it would be
well-nigh a relief to fall back on the old
DUTCH AUCTION, by which an article was
put up at a high price, and, if nobody ac-
cepted the offer, then reduced to a lower,
the sum first required being gradually
decreased until a fair value was attained.
1885. Punch, 21 Feb., p. 93. Gives
up India to Russia, Africa to Germany,
puts up garrisoned fortresses and coaling
stations at DUTCH AUCTION, and lets
colonies run loose.
DUTCH-BARGAIN, subs, (old).—
A bargain all on one side.
' In matters of commerce the fault of
the Dutch, Is giving too little and asking
too much ! '
DUTCH -CLOCK, stibs. (music-hall).
—i. A wife. Cf., DUTCH and
sense 2.
2. (common). — A bed-pan.
DUTCH-CONCERT or MEDLEY, subs.
(common). — A sing-song whereat
everybody sings an<i plays at the
same time as everybody else ; a
hubbub.
1814. SCOTT, Wave? ley, ch. xi. And
now the Demon of Politics envied even the
harmony arising from this DUTCH CONCERT,
merely because there was not a wrathful
note in the strange compound of sounds
which it produced.
1871. Daily Telegraph, 23 Mar.
1 Lord Derby on Pauperism.' It happens
that instead of the harmony which should
exist where good men and good women are,
working together for a common object,
you have something like what is popularly
known as a DUTCH CONCERT, or in other
words, every man playing his own tune on
his own instrument.
DUTCH CONSOLATION, subs, (com-
mon). — Job's comfort ; uncon-
soling consolation.
1888. All the Year Round, 9 June,
p. 542. The expression often heard,
'Thank Heaven, it is no worse,' is some-
times called DUTCH CONSOLATION.
DUTCH -COURAGE, subs. Pot-
valiancy. C/, Fielding's DUTCH-
DEFENCE = sham-defence.
1872. SPENCER, Study of Sociology,
ch. viii., p. 185 (gth ed.). A dose of brandy,
by stimulating the circulation, produces
DUTCH COURAGE, as it is called.
1887. MRS. LOVETT CAMERON, Neck
or Nothing, ch. iv., p. 50, Bob waited half
a second for an answer, glancing uneasily
at his friend's face, and then he dashed on
again with a sort of DUTCH COURAGE, for,
to tell the truth he wasn't quite sure how
Jack would take it.
DUTCH-FEAST, subs. (old). — See
quot.
1888. All the Year Round, 9 June,
p. 542. DUTCH FEAST is a phrase now
obsolete; it was formerly applied to an
entertainment where the host got drunk
before his guests.
Dutch-Gleek.
349
Dying.
DUTCH-GLEEK, subs. (old). Drinks.
1654. GAYTON,/^^. Notes, p. 96. Nor
could be partaker of any of the good cheer,
except it were the liquid part of it, which
they call DUTCH GLEEK, where he plaied
his cards so well, and vied and revled so
often, that he had scarce an eye to see
withall
DUTCHMAN. I'M A DUTCHMAN
IF I DO, phr. (common). — A
strong refusal. [During the wars
between England and Holland,
Dutch was synonymous with all
that was false and hateful ; there-
fore, ' I would rather be a Dutch-
man ' = the strongest term of re-
fusal that words could express.]
1855. EARL RUSSELL, Memoirs of
Thomas Moore. Cope mentioned a good
specimen of English- French, and the as-
tonishment of the French people who heard
it, not conceiving what it could mean — ' Si
je fais, je fais ; mais si je fais, je suis un
Hollandais.' ' If I do, I do ; but IF i DO,
I'M A DUTCHMAN.'
DUTCHMAN'S - BREECHES, subs.
(nautical). — Two streaks of blue
in a cloudy sky.
DUTCHMAN'S-DRINK, subs, (com-
mon).— A draught that empties
the pot.
DUTCH-TREAT, subs, (common). —
An entertainment where every-
one pays his shot.
1887. Lippincotfs Mag., Aug., p.
191. ' You'll come along too, won't you ? '
Lancelot demanded of Ormizon ! DUTCH
TREAT, VOUS SdVgZ !
DUTCH UNCLE. I WILL TALK TO
YOU LIKE A DUTCH UNCLE,
phr. (common). — I will reprove
you smartly. [The Dutch were
renowned for the brutality of their
discipline. Uncle is the Latin
notion of pafruus, ' an uncle,'
' severe guardian,' or ' stern casti-
gator.' Hence Horace, 3 Od.
xii. 3, Metuentes patrua verbera
lingua (dreading the castigations
of an uncle's tongue) ; and 2 Sat.
iii. 88, Ne sis patmus mihi (Don't
come the uncle over me). A
DUTCH UNCLE = therefore, an
uncle of peculiar fierceness.]
1853. Notes and Queries, i S., vii., 65.
In some parts of America, when a person
has determined to give another a regular
lecture, he will often be heard to say, I
WILL TALK TO HIM LIKE A DUTCH UNCLE ;
that is, he shall not escape this time.
1869. East Anglian, vol. III., p. 350.
[In list of Suffolk sea words] : ' There were
the squires on the bench, but I took heart,
and TALKED TO 'EM LIKE A DUTCH UNCLE.'
DUTCH-WIDOW, subs. (old). — A
prostitute. For synonyms, see
BARRACK-HACK and </., GRASS-
WIDOW.
1608. MIDDLETON, Trick to Catch
the Old One, III., iii. Dra. Yes, a DUTCH
WIDOW. Hoa. How ? Dra. That's an
English drab, sir.
DUTCH -WIFE, subs, (common).— A
bolster.
DYING IN A HORSE'S NIGHTCAP.
Dying by the rope ; cf.t HORSE'S
NIGHTCAP.
AGLE-TAKERS,
subs. (military).
— The Eighty-
Seventh Foot.
[The title was
gained at Barossa
(1811), when it
captured the eagle of the 8th
French Light Infantry. Its
-»^1~— ~1«^ V^rt *. * fVio -rvlnm*>
colours also bear 'the plume
of the Prince of Wales ' and * the
harp and crown,' an eagle
with a wreath of laurel.] It
was also nicknamed ' The Old
Fogs'; also 'The Faugh-a-Bal-
lagh Boys,' from Fag an bealac!
= ' Clear the Way,' the regimental
march, and the war-cry at Barossa.
EAR. To SEND AWAY WITH A
FLEA IN THE EAR, verb. phr.
(common). — To dismiss peremp-
torily and with a scolding. Fr.,
mettre la puce a roreille = io get
angry.
1764-1817. J. G. HOLMAN, Abroad
and at Home, ii., i. I could not think of
Miss Hartley being troubled with such a
brute of a fellow .... so, an't please you,
my lady, T SENT HIM AWAY WITH A FLEA
IN HIS EAR.
1841. Comic Almanack, p. 280. One
thing is very clear, If they ain't off of
their own accord, the Lord Mayor will
soon HELP 'EM OFF WITH A FLEA IN
THEIR EAR.
1884. HAWLEY SMART, From Post
to Finish, p. 202. Her husband had
with difficulty restrained her from SENDING
FORREST AWAY WITH what in homely
language is denominated A FLEA IN HIS
TO BITE THE EAR. — See BlTE
and BREAK SHINS.
To GET UP ON ONE'S EAR,
verb. phr. (American). — To bestir
oneself; to rouse oneself for an
effort.
1870. RICHARD GRANT WHITE.
Words and their Uses. They called me
bully boy, altho' I've seen nigh three-score
years, And said that I was lightning when
I GOT UP ON MY EAR.
1888. Puck's Library, May, p. 15.
A man who walked ON HIS EAR out of
a store said 'he came out on the Erie
route. '
EARL OF CORK, subs, phr, (Irish).
— The ace of diamonds. — [See
quots.]
1830. W. CARLETON, Traits and
Stories of the Irish Peasantry. 'What
do you mean by the Earl of Cork ? ' asked
Mr. Squander. ' The ace of diamonds,
your honour. It's the worst ace, and the
poorest card in the pack, and is called the
EARL OF CORK, because he's the poorest
nobleman in Ireland.'
1864. Atherueum, 29 Oct. The ace
of diamonds acquired the name of ' the
EARL OF CORK ' because his lordship hap-
pened to be the poorest nobleman in Ire-
land.
Earl of Mar.
35*
Ease.
EARL OF MAR'S GREY BREEKS,
subs.phr. (military).— TheTwenty-
First Foot. [In allusion to the
colour of the men's breeches and to
the original title of the regiment,
The Earl of Mar's Fuzileers.]
Obsolete.
EARLY. To GET UP EARLY, verb,
pkr. (common). — To be astute ;
ready; wide-awake. Cf., 'It's
the early bird that catches the
worm.'
1738. SWIFT, Polite Convers., Dial.
3. They must RISE EARLY that would
cheat her of her money.
c. 1869. VANCE, Broadside Ballad.
For to get me on the hop, or on my
1 tibby ' drop, You must WAKE UP VERY
EARLY in the morning.
1880. A. TROLLOPE, The Duke's
Children^ ch. xlvi. It was said of him
that .... if you wished to take him in
you must GET UP EARLY.
EARLY- RISER, subs, (common).—
An aperient. Cf., CUSTOM-
HOUSE OFFICER and TWO GUN-
NERS AND A DRIVER.
EARLY-WORM, suds, (common). —
A man who searches the streets at
daybreak for cigar stumps.
EARTH -BATH, subs, (old).— A grave.
TO TAKE AN EARTH-BATH =
to be buried ; cf.y GROUND
SWEAT.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue ;
i.v.
1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum^ or
Rogues Lexicon, s.v.
EARTHQUAKE. BOTTLED EARTH-
QUAKE, subs.phr. (American). —
Intoxicating drinks.
EARTH -STOPPERS, subs. (old). —
Horse's feet.
1823. MONCRIEFF, Tom and Jerry,
i., 6. There's action for you — there's one
to tip 'em the go-bye at a mill, — there's
EARTH-STOPPERS — quiet to drive, quiet in
harness, trots fifteen miles in less than an
hour.
EARTHY, adj. (colloquial). — Gross ;
common ; devoid of ' soul. '
EAR- WIG, subs. (old). — A private
prompter or flatterer ; also
(thieves') a clergyman. [From
the popular delusion that the ear-
wig lodges itself in the ear with a
view to working its way into the
brain when it causes death.]
1639. BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER,
Bloody Brother. Dram. Personae, Latorch
Rollo's Earwig.
1789. GEO. PARKER, Life's Painter
p. 77. And the court, mercy on us ! there
are no words equal to the just painting of
its EAR-WIGS, its sycophants, pensioners,
placemen, scouters, masters of the cere-
monies, etc.
1822. SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel,
A pack of mouthers, and flatterers, and
EAR-WIGS.
Verb (common). — To prompt ;
to influence by covert statements ;
to whisper insinuations.
_ 1842. MARRYAT, Percival Keen*,
xiii. And by way of a hint, make him your
friend if you can,for he EARWIGS the captain
in fine style.
1879. JAS. PAYN, High Spirits
(Confiscated Weeds). He is a sound
divine and politician, but a little apt to ^e
led away by specious arguments on the
subject of education ; and Carker was in
the habit ... of EARWIGGING him.
EASE, -verb (common). — i. To rob ;
Fr., soulager. C/., ANNEX and
CONVEY. To EASE A BLOKE =
to rob a man.
1630. JONSON, New Inn, I. EASE
his pockets of a superfluous watch.
1817. SCOTT, Rob Roy, ch. viii.
1 The law's hard — very severe — hanged poor
Jack Winterfield at York, despite family
connexions and great interest, all for
Eason.
352
Eat.
EASING a fat West-country grazier of the
price of a few beasts.
1840. THACKERAY, Paris Sketch
Book, p. 109. His was the place at the
e"carte table, where the Countess would
EASE him nightly of a few pieces.
1849. Punch, November, 'The Swell
Mobsman's Almanack.' Remember, wen
you've EASED a cove in a iogg, never cut
away in an 'urry, or crushers stop you.
2. (venery). — To content a
woman.
1861. A. C. SWINBURNE, Poems and
Ballads. ' Hermaphroditus.' Hath made
him man to EASE a woman's sighs.
To EASE ONESELF, verb. phr.
(colloquial). — I. To 'rear.' For
synonyms, see BURY A QUAKER.
2. (venery). — To ejaculate.
EASON, verb (American thieves').
—To tell.
1859. MATSEI.L, Vocabulum, or
Rogue's Lexicon, s.v.
EAST-AND-SOUTH, subs, (rhyming
slang). — The mouth. Also
SUNNY SOUTH. For synomyms,
see POTATO-TRAP.
1857. DUCANGE ANGLICUS, The
Vulgar Tongue, s.v.
EASTERY, subs, (cheap-jacks'). —
Private business.
1876. C. HINDI.EY, Life and Adven-
tures of a Cheap Jack, p. 107. At one
EASTERY Aaron Jessell was going to cry
the place.
EASY, To MAKE EASY, verb. phr.
(old). — To gag or kill. [GROSE,
1785.]
EASY AS DAMN IT, (or AS MY
EYE), adj. phr. (popular). — Ex-
cessively easy : ' easy as lying '
[Shakspeare].
EASY DOES IT ! verb. phr.
(popular). — An exclamation of
encouragement and counsel =
' Take your time and keep your
coat on.'
EASY OVER THE PIMPLES, (or
OVER THE STONES), verb. phr.
(popular). — An injunction = ' go
slow,' or 'mind what you're
about.'
EASY VIRTUE. — See LADY OF EASY
VIRTUE.
EAT, verb (American). — To pro-
vision : e.g., a steamer is said to
be able to EAT 400 passengers
and sleep about half that number.
ante 18 7 1 . Pickingsfrom the Picayune,
give us two dollars a-day and EAT us.
1887. R. A. PROCTER, on 'American-
isms' in Knowledge, s.v. Sometimes a
host may EAT his guests in another sense.
I once, when staying at an hotel, found a
finely coloured motto rather unfortunately
spelt ; it ran, ' Watch and Prey.' Its
owner carried out the idea.
EAT COKE.— See COKE.
EAT CROW. — See CROW.
EAT A FIG, verb. phr. (rhyming
slang). — To 'crack a crib'; to
break a house.
To EAT ONE'S HEAD OFF, verb,
phr. (colloquial). — To be re-
tained for service and stand idle ;
also (quot., 1850) to cost more in
' keep ' than one is worth.
1850. F. E. SMEDLEY, Frank Fair-
leigh, ch. xiv. I'd rather keep her for a
week than a fortnight, I can tell you ;
she'd EAT HER HEAD OFF in a month, and
no mistake.
1872. Times, 27 Aug. ' The Autumn
Manoeuvres.' The country never would
stand the maintenance all the year round
of some 1,500 horses which would have
nothing to do for nine months out of the
twelve but EAT THEIR HEADS OFF.
Eat.
353
Edge.
1874. MRS. H. WOOD, Johnny Lud-
Iffiv, i S., No. xxv., p. 446. And I fit to
EAT MY HEAD off with having nothing to
do.
EAT ONE'S HEAD, HAT, BOOTS,
etc., verb. phr. (common). — A
locution of emphatic asseveration.
[ Probably Dickensonian, in-
fluenced by the proverbial say-
ing, ' To eat one's heart out ' —
to undergo intense struggle, and
also To EAT ONE'S HEAD OFF
(y.v. ).] — See Notes and Queries^
7 S.,iii., 7,94, 197, 352> 433-
1836. DICKENS, Pick-wick, xlii., 367.
1 Well, if I knew as little of life as that,
I'd EAT MY HAT and swallow the buckle
whole,' said the clerical gentleman.
1837. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, ch.
xiv. This was the handsome offer with
which Mr. Grimwig backed and confirmed
nearly every assertion he made ; and it was
the more singular in his case because, even
admitting, tor the sake of argument, the
possibility of scientific improvements being
ever brought to that pass which will enable
a man to EAT HIS own HEAD in the event
of his being so disposed, Mr. Grim wig's
head was such a particularly large one that
the most sanguine man alive could hardly
entertain a hope of being able to get
through it at a sitting, to put entirely out
of the question a very thick coating of
powder.
1887. E. E. MONEY, Little Dutch
Maiden, II., viii., 148. And if you don't
run up against him next day in Bond
Street, you may EAT YOUR HAT !
To EAT ONE'S TERMS, verb,
phr. (legal). — To go through the
prescribed course of study for
admission to the bar. [In allus-
ion to the dinners a student has
to attend in the public hall of
his inn.]
To EAT ONE'S WORDS, verb,
phr. (colloquial). — To retract a
statement ; to own a lie.
To EAT UP, verb. phr. (collo-
quial). — To vanquish ; to ruin.
[Originally Zulu.]
1890. National Observer, 13 Dec.,
p. 88, col. 2. But buttons tarnish, hot
gospelling palls, the EATING-UP of white
men is in strictest consonance with regal
tradition and the regal habit.
EAVES, subs. (American). — A hen-
roost.
1859. MATSELL,F0c«3«/#7«, or Rogues
Lexicon, s.v.
EAVESDROPPER, subs. (American).
— A chicken thief ; also generally,
any petty pilferer.
1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum,or Rogues
Lexicon^ s.v.
EBENEZER, subs. ( Winchester
Go liege). — A stroke at fives:
when the ball hits ' line ' at such
an angle as to rise perpendicularly
into the air.
EBONY, subs, (common). — i. A
negro ; otherwise BLACKBIRD
(q. v. ) and BLAC K IVORY. Thomas
Fuller (1608-1661) spoke of the
negro race as ' God's images
cut in ebony.' For synonyms, see
SNOWBALL.
2. The publisher of Maga.\
i.e., BLACKWOOD. — (See Nodes
Ambrosiance passim. )
EBONY-OPTICS, subs. (old). — Black
eyes. EBONY-OPTICS ALBONIZED
= black eyes painted white.
EDGABAC, subs, (back slang). —
Cabbage.
EDGE. STITCHED OFF THE EDGE,
phr. (tailors'). — Said of a glass
not filled to the top.
SIDE-EDGE, subs, (tailors'). —
Whiskers.
SHORT TOP EDGE, subs. phr.
(tailors'). — A turn-up nose or
CELESTIAL (q.V.).
23
Edgenaro.
354
Elboiv.
EDGE IN, verb. phr. (collo-
quial).— To slip in; insinuate:
e.g., To EDGE IN a word (or a
remark).
EDGE OFF (or OUT OF), verb.
phr. (colloquial). — To slink away;
to gradually desist. To TAKE
THE EDGE OFF [a thing, or person,
or idea] = to become acquainted
with; to enjoy to satiety. Cf.,
Hamlet, iii., 2. 'It would cost
you a groaning TO TAKE OFF
MY EDGE.'
EDGENARO, subs, (back slang). — An
orange.
EDGE -WAYS. NOT ABLE TO GET
A WORD IN EDGE-WAYS, phr.
(colloquial). — Having but the
barest opportunity of taking part
in a discussion.
EEL-SKINS, subs. (old). — Tight
trousers. For synonyms, see
BAGS and KICKS.
1827. BULWER LYTTON, Pelham,
ch. xlix., p. 190. He only filched a two-
penny halfpenny gilt chain out of his
master, Levy, the pawnbroker's window,
and stuck it in his EEL-SKIN to make a
show.
E-FINK, subs, (back slang). — A
knife.
EFTER, subs, (thieves'). — A theatre
thief.
EGG.— See BAD EGG.
EGG ON, verb. phr. (colloquial).
— To encourage.
EGGS. SURE AS EGGS is EGGS, phr.
(popular). — Of a certainty ; with-
out doubt. [From the formula,
< x isx.'~\
To TEACH ONE'S GRAND-
MOTHER TO ROAST or SUCK EGGS,
verb. phr. (colloquial). — To lecture
elders and superiors ; Fr., les
oisons veulent mener les oies paitre
= the goslings want to drive the
geese to pasture.
EGHAM, STAINES, AND WINDSOR,
subs. phr. (common). — See quot.
1886. G. A. SALA, in ///. Lon. News,
23 Oct., 418, 2. Is not the three-cornered
hat of an English gentleman's coachman
in gala livery known as an ' EGHAM,
STAINES, AND WINDSOR '?
EGYPTIAN-HALL, subs, (rhyming
slang). — A ball.
EIGHTER, stibs. (prison). — An eight-
ounce loaf.
EKAME, stibs. (back slang). — A
MAKE (q.v. ), or swindle.
EKOM,SU&S. (back slang). —A MOKE
(q.v.}, or donkey.
ELBOW, verb (American thieves'). —
To turn a corner ; to get out of
sight.
1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, or
Rogue s Lexicon, s.v.
TO SHAKE THE ELBOW, verb.
phr. To play dice. [From the
motion of the arm in 'casting.']
1680. COTTON, Compleat Gamester
[gaming is compared to] a paralytical dis-
temper which, seizing the arm the man
cannot chuse but SHAKE HIS ELBOW.
1705. VANBRUGH, Confederacy, Act
i. He's always SHAKING his heels with
the ladies and HIS ELBOWS with the lords.
1709. MRS. CENTLIVRE, Gamester,
I. (1872), i., 134. He is at SHAKING HIS
ELBOWS over a table . . . courting the dice
like a mistress, and cursing them when he
is disappointed.
1713. Guardian, No. 120. But
what would you say, should you see the
Sparkler SHAKING HER ELBOW for a whole
Elbow- Crooker.
355
Elbow-Grease.
night together, and thumping the table
with a dice-box?
1822. SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel, ch.
xvii. To eke out your living By the
WAG OF YOUR ELBOWS.
TO CROOK THE ELBOW, Verb.
phr. (common). — To drink.-— See
ELBOW - CROOKER. [From the
action of the arm. ] For synonyms,
see LUSH.
ELBOW-CROOKER, subs, (common).
— A hard drinker. See infra and
DRINKS.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. — Bora-
chio ; boozington ; brewer's horse ;
bubber ; budger ; mop ; lushington;
workerot thecannon ; wet-quaker ;
soaker ; lapper ; pegger ; angel
altogether; bloat; ensign-bearer;
fiddle-cup ; sponge ; tun ; toss-
pot ; swill-pot ; wet subject ;
shifter ; potster ; swallower ; pot-
walloper ; wetster ; dramster ;
drinkster; beer-barrel; ginnums;
lowerer ; moist 'un ; drainist ;
boozer ; mopper-up ; piss-maker ;
thirstington.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. — Un
louave (thieves') ; un litronneur
(popular : litre = 1 -7 t>Q pint) ; une
grosse culotte (popular = big-
breeches or fat-arse) ; un gave
(thieves' : gaver = to stuff) ; tine
lampe a mort (pop. : a confirmed
drunkard ; = a death-lamp) ; un
zingueur (popular) ; un boyau
rouge (pop. = red-guts) ; tm mar-
quant (thieves' : = conspicuous,
striking, etc. ) ; uncanonneur ( pop. :
canon = a gla^-s of wine; cf.^ Eng-
lish CANNON); un camphrier(\>op.:
a dram-drinker; also = a camphor-
tree); un fioleur (pop. : fiole =
phial : <r/C, TOSS-POT and SWILL-
POT) ; une ep<ni$e (pop. : = a
sponge ; also a p ramour, a fool,
an att»rnry); un bibard (thieves':
bibjron = sucking - bottle) ; un
buvard ( popular : = blotting book ) ;
un pochard (colloquial) ; adroit
du coude (pop. = artful elbowed);
un artilleur (pop. : = a can-
noneer; cf, CAN A ON); un boisson-
neur (pop. : boisson = drink) ;
un bzwailleur or buvaillon (pop. :
a man easily drunk) ; un chocaillon
(pop. : a female drunkard) ; un
poivrot (familiar) ; un sac cl vin
(pop. =a wine butt).
GERMAN SYNONYM. — Matto-
bolo (malto balo = & drunken pig :
from the gypsy matto = drunk).
ITALIAN SYNONYMS. — Fran-
soso ( = a Frenchman) ; chiantore ;
chiaristante.
SPANISH SYNONYMS. — Cuero
( = a goat-skin bag for wine or oil);
coladra ( = a wooden pail in which
wine is measured and retailed) ;
cuba ( = a measure for wine) ;
difunto de taberna (lit., a pub-
lic-house corpse); odre ( = a wine-
skin); pellejo ( = a liquor skin
dressed and pitched) ; peneque ;
potista ; odrina ( = an ox - hide
bottle).
ELBOWER,^^. (American thieves').
—A runaway. [Cf., ELBOW.]
ELBOW-GREASE, suds, (colloquial).
— Energetic and continuous
manual labour : e.g. , ' ELBOW-
GREASE is the best furniture oil.'
Fr. , huile de bras or de poignet ;
du foulage.
1779-1839. GALT [quoted in Imperial
Eng. Diet.}. He has scartit and dintit my
guid mahogany past a' the power o bees-
wax and ELBOW-GREASE to smooth.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
18;>9. G.ELIOT, Adam Bede, bk. I.,
ch. vi. Nowhere else could an oak clock-
case and an oak table have got to such a
Elbow-scraper.
356
Elephant.
polish by the hand : genuine ELBOW-POLISH,
as Mrs. Poyser called it, for she thanked
God she never had any of your varnished
rubbish in her house.
1870. London Figaro, 31 Oct. Often
have I been . . . frequently admonished to
put some ELBOW-GREASE into my work.
1876. M. E. BRADDON, Joshua. Hag-
gards Daughter, ch. xi. There's no such
polish in Devonshire, I should think, as
poor Phoebe's ELBOW-GREASE.
ELBOW-SCRAPER, or JIGGER, subs.
(common). — A fiddler.
ELBOW-SHAKER, subs. (old). — A
gambler. — See ELBOW.
1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (sth
ed.). ELBOW-SHAKER (s.) a gamester, one
that practises dice-playing.
ELBOW-SHAKING, subs, (common).
— Gambling. — See ELBOW.
1849. THACKERAY, Pendennis, ch. Ix.
' It's been doosedly dipped and cut into,
sir, by the confounded extravygance of
your master, with his HELBOW SHAKIN',
and his bill discountin'.
ELECTRIFIED,///, adj. i. (Ameri-
can). — Moderately drunk. For
synonyms, see DRINKS and
SCREWED.
2. (colloquial). — Violently
startled.
1837. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends.
1 The Lay of St. Gengulphus.' Pig, pud-
ding, and soup. The ELECTRIFIED groups,
Pop under the sofa.
ELEGANT, adj. (colloquial). — Ex-
cellent.
ELEGANT-EXTRACTS, subs, (mili-
tary).—!. The Eighty-Fifth Foot.
[This regiment was remodelled in
1812, after a long sequence of
court-martials : when the officers
were removed, and others set in
their room.]
1871. Chambers' Journal, 23 Dec.,
p. 803. ' ELEGANT EXTRACTS ' was the
name given to the Ssth on its being re-
formed with officers picked out from those
of other regiments.
2. (Cambridge University). —
Students who, though ' plucked,'
were still given their degrees. A
line was drawn below the poll-
list, and those allowed to pass
were nicknamed the ELEGANT EX-
TRACTS. There was a similar
limbo in the honour-list, called
the Gulf : for ' Between them
(in the poll) and us (in the honour
lists] there is a great gulf fixed.']
ELEPHANT, subs. (American
thieves'). — A wealthy victim. Cf.,
To SEE THE ELEPHANT.
1859. MATSELL, Vocabuhtm, or
Rogue's Lexicon, s.v.
To SEE THE ELEPHANT, verb,
phr. (American). — I. To see the
world ; to 'go out for wool and
come home shorn ' ; by implica-
tion, to ' go on the loose.' Some-
times, To SEE THE KING.
b. 1533, d. 1592. MONTAIGNE, Arrien.
Hist. Ind., ch. 17. Aux_Indes Orientales la
chastete y estant en singuliere recomman-
dation, 1'usage pourtant souffroit qu'une
femme mariee se peust abandonner a qui
luy presentoit un ELEPHANT, et cela avec
quelque gloire d'avoir este estimee a si
hault prix.
1841. KENDALL, Narrative of the
Texan Santa Fe Expedition, i., p. 109.
When a man is disappointed in any thing
he undertakes, when he has seen enough,
when he gets tired and sick of any job he
may have set himself about, he has SEEN THE
ELEPHANT.
1870. L. OLIPHANT, Piccadilly, pt.
ii., p. 39. So had Mr. Wog, who went up
to town TO SEE what he called THE
ELEPHANT, — an American expression,
signifying ' to gain experience of the
world.'
1872. BESANT and RICE,/?. M. Moi-
tiboy, ch. xxxiv. Just like the Americans,
when they go to see a great sight, say they
are going to SEE THE ELEPHANT.
1888. Boston Globe, 4 March. It was
in a Hanover Street dispensary, where the
tillers of the soil love to congregate, when
Elephant-dance. 357
Emma.
they are down to Bosting, INSPECTING THE
Athenian white ELEPHANT.
1889. Puck's Library Ap., p. 25.
Forepaugh says that elephants have a
natural liking for whiskey. We have often
wondered, when a man went]out to SEE THE
ELEPHANT, why he always brought back
such a strange odour with him. This seems
to explain it.
2. (common). — To be seduced ;
Fr. , avoir vu le loup. For syno-
nyms, see LEG.
ELEPHANT-DANCE. —See CELLAR-
FLAP and DOUBLE-SHUFFLE.
ELEPH ANT'S-TRU N K, subs, (rhyming
slang). — Drunk. For synonyms,
see DRINKS and SCREWED.
ELEVATE, verb (colloquial). — To
make or become slightly drunk. —
See ELEVATED.
ELEVATED, ppl. adj. (colloquial).
— Slightly drunk. For synonyms,
see DRINKS and SCREWED.
1664. ETHEREGE, Comical Revenge.
IV., iii. in wks. (1704,), 51. The wine
makes the rogue witty. ... I will keep
him thus ELEVATED 'till he has married
Grace.
1748. SMOLLETT, Rod. Random, ch.
xvii. The liquor mounted up to our heads,
and made us all extremely frolicsome. I,
in particular, was much ELEVATED.
1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5th ed.).
ELEVATED (A.). . . . sometime spoke of a
person that has drank a little too freely.
1836. DICKENS, Pick-wick, ch. 1., p.
434. Except when he's ELEVATED, Bob's
the quietest creature breathing.
1837. DISRAELI, Venetia, p. 274.
ELEVATION, s^^bs. (colloquial). — i.
A phase of drunkenness. — See
ELEVATED.
1823. SCOTT, Peveril, ch. iii. The
unwonted agitation of her voice attracted
the attention of the refractory steward, not-
withstanding his present state of ELEVA-
TION.
2. (common). — Opium.
1849. C. KINGSLEY, Alton Locke,
4 What's ELEVATION ? ' ' Opium, bor
alive.'
EL FEN, verb (American thieves'). —
To walk lightly ; to go on tiptoe.
1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, or
Rogues Lexicon, s.v.
ELLENBOROUGH LODGE, or SPIKE,
or PARK, subs. phr. (old).— The
King's Bench. [From Lord
Chief-Justice Ellenborough.] For
synonyms, see CAGE. ELLEN-
BOROUGH'S TEETH = the chevaux
de frize round the prison wall.
ELRIG, subs, (back slang). — A girl.
ELYCAMPANE or ELECAMPANE. —
See ALL ACOM PAIN and quot.
1823. W. T. MONCRIEFF, Tom and
Jerry, ii. , 4. Go and get a pennyworth of
ELYCAMPANE. Jerry. There's a pair of
men-milliners.
EMAG, subs, (back slang). — Game :
e.g., ' I know your little EMAG.'
EMBROIDER, verb (common). — To
exaggerate ; to add to the truth.
1877. S.L.CLEMENS ('Mark Twain'),
The Mississippi Pilot. Tom tried to
make himself appear to be a hero too, and
succeeded to some extent, but then he
always had a way of EMBROIDERING.
EMBROIDERY, subs, (common). —
Exaggeration ; the American SASS
AND TRIMMIN'S (q.v.). — [See
EMBROIDER.]
1890. Standard, 5 April, p. 2, col. i.
Fanny Burney had many good qualities,
no doubt, but we fancy that when she tells
us with such evident unction how great
folks loved and admired her she puts a
good deal of EMBROIDERY into her narra-
tions.
EMMA.— See WHOA EMMA and
STREET-CRIES.
Empzror.
358
Epsom-races.
EMPEROR, subs. (American
thieves'). — A drunken man.
[An intensification of * drunk as a
lord ' ; whence * drunk as an
emperor.']
1881. New York Slang Diet. 'On
the Trail.' A pinch for an EMPEROR'S
slang.
DRUNK AS AN EMPEROR, phr.
(common). — An intensitive of
* drunk as a lord.' Fr., saoul
comme trente mille hommes^ or
un dne.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
s.v.
EMPTY THE BAG. — See BAG.
ENCUMBRANCES,JZ*/«-. (common). —
Children. — See CERTAINTIES and
UNCERTAINTIES.
END. To BE ALL ON END, verb,
phr. (American). — To be very
angry; irritated. Also expectant.
AT LOOSE ENDS, adv. phr.
(common). — Neglected; pre-
carious.
END ON, adv. phr. (colloquial).
—Straight ; full-tilt.
To BE END ON, verb. phr.
(venery). — To have an erection.
To KEEP ONE'S END UP, verb,
phr. (American). — To rub along.
END OF THE SENTIMENTAL
JOURNEY, subs. phr. (venery).
— The female pudendum. For
synonyms, see MONOSYLLABLE.
ENEMY, subs, (common). — Time:
e.g., 'How goes the ENEMY '=
what's o'clock? 'To kill the
ENEMY ' = to kill time.
1839. DICKENS, Nick. Nickleby, ch.
xix., p. 140. ' How goes the ENEMY,
Snobb ? ' asked Sir Mulberry Hawke.
' Four minutes gone.
1864. ^ Glasgow Citizen, 19 Nov. The
swell who is bored by his efforts to ' kill the
ENEMY.'
ENGLISH BURGUNDY, subs. phr.
(old). — Porter.— See DRINKS.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
s.v.
1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, 01
Rogue's Lexicon, s.v.
EN IF, adj. (back slang). — Fine.
EN IN GEN, subs. phr. (back slang).
— Nine shillings. ENIN YANNEPS
= Ninepence.
ENJOY, verb (old). — To 'possess'
a woman.
1594. SHAKSPEARE. The Rape oj
Lucrece, st. 74. ' Lucrece,' quoth he,
' this night I must ENJOY thee ; if thou
deny, then force must work my way. '
ENO, adj. (back slang). — One.
1850. Lloyds Weekly, 3 Feb. ' Low
Lodging Houses of London.' There's
people there will rob their own brother.
There's people there talk backward — for
one they say ENO, for two owt, for three
eerht, for four ruof, for five evif, for six
exis. I don't know any higher.
ENSIGN-BEARER, subs. (old). — A
drunkard ; especially one with a
red nose and blotchy face. — See
ELBOW-CROOKER.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
EPHESIAN, stibs. (old). — A boon
companion; a 'spreester.' Cf.t
CORINTHIAN.
1596. SHAKSPEARE, Merry Wives
of Windsor, iv., 5. Art thou there? it is
thine host, thine EPHESIAN, calls.
1598. SHAKSPEARE, 2 Henry IV.,
ii. 2. P. H. What company? Page.
EPHESIANS, my lord, of the old church.
EPIP, subs, (back slang). — A pipe.
EPSOM-RACES, subs, (rhyming
slang). — A pair of braces.
Equal,
359
Evatch.
EQUAL TO THE GENUINE LIM-
BURGER. — See LlMBURGER.
EQUIPPED, ppL adj. (American
thieves'). — Rich ; well-dressed ;
in good circumstances. Cf., WELL-
BALLASTED.
ERIF, subs, (back slang). — Fire.
ERIFF, subs. (American thieves'). —
A young thief.
1881. New York Slang Diet. 'On
the Trail.' It's the gait all them ERIFFS
dances, observed the one-eyed man.
ERRAND. To SEND A BABY ON
AN ERRAND, verb. phr. (com-
mon).— To undertake what is
pretty sure to turn out badly.
ERROR,— See No ERROR.
ERTH (back slang). — THREE.
ERTH GEN = Three shillings.
ERTH - PU = Three-up, a street
game, played with three half-
pence. ERTH Srra - NOMS =
Three months' imprisonment ; a
* drag.' ERTH YANNEPS =
Threepence.
ESCLOP (back slang). — A police-
constable ; ESCLOP is pronounced
* slop ' the c is never sounded.
For synonyms, see BEAK and
COPPER.
ES-ROCH (back slang).— A horse.
For synonyms, see PRAD.
ESSEX-LION, subs. (old). — A calf:
£.,?., 'as valiant as an ESSEX-LION.
Cf.i COTSWOLD LION, CAM-
BRIDGESHIRE NIGHTINGALE, etc.
1787. GROSE, Prov. Glossary, s.v.
ESSEX LIONS. Calves, great numbers of
which are brought alive in carts to the
London markets.
ESSEX-STILE, subs. (old). — A ditch.
1787. GROSE, Prov. Glossary. Ex-
plained to be either real stiles which,
because of the very small enclosures in
Essex, are very frequent or the ' narrow
bridges, such as are laid between marsh
and marsh in the hundreds of this county,
only jocularly called stiles, as the loose
stone walls in Derbyshire are ludicrously
called hedges.'
ESUCH (back slang). — A house.
For synonyms, see KEN.
ETERNITY- Box, subs, (common). —
A coffin.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. — Cold
meat box ; wooden surtout ; coffee-
shop ; deal suit.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. — Boite
& dominos ( popular ) ; etui a
lorgnette (popular) ; boite d doche
(thieves') ; redingote de sapin
(popular).
GERMAN SYNONYMS. — Pron
(from the Hebrew) ; Teba (He-
brew leba).
EVAPORATE, veib (common). — To
run away ; to disappear. For
synonyms, see AMPUTATE and
SKEDADDLE.
1852. DICKENS, Bleak Ho-use, ch.
xxii., p. 191. Upon which the young man,
looking round, instantly EVAPORATES.
1854. AINSWORTH, Flitch of Bacon,
pt. I,, ch. x. You may EVAPORATE if
you think proper, Sir G. ; but split me if I
stir a step.
1857. CUTHBERT BEDE, Verdant
Green, pt. II., ch. ix. Mr. Bouncer
EVAPORATES with a low bow, leaving the
ladies to play with their parasols, and
EVATCH, verb (back slang). — To
have : e.g. , * EVATCH a kool at
the elrig ' = Have a look at the
girl.
Everlasting- Shoes. 360
Execution-day.
EVERLASTING-SHOES, (also EVER-
LASTINGS), subs, (common). —
The naked feet. For synonyms,
see CREEPERS.
EVERLASTING-STAIRCASE, subs.
(thieves'). — The treadmill. For
synonyms, see WHEEL OF LIFE.
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon, Poor, vol. i., p. 300. Why we
should be very soon taking reg'lar exercise
on Colonel Chesterton's EVERLASTING
STAIRCASE. We has a great respect for the
law — O, certainly !
1874. H. MAYHEW, London Charac-
ters, p. 349. I had ' done ' my quarter of
an hour on the EVERLASTING STAIRCASE
(treadmill).
EVERTON -TOFFEE, subs, (rhyming
slang). — Coffee.
EVERYTHING is LOVELY AND THE
GOOSE HANGS HIGH, /v^r. (Amer-
ican). — Everything is going
swimmingly. [An allusion to the
'sport' of gander pulling. A
gander was plucked, thoroughly
greased, especially about the head
and neck, and tied tight by the
feet to the branch of a tree. The
game was then to ride furiously at
the mark, catch it by the head
or neck, and attempt to bear it
away. With every failure the fun
would get more uproarious].
1867. Round Table, 30 July. I am
not aware that any one has asked you the
meaning of the slang phrase, EVERYTHING
GOES LOVELY AND THE GOOSE HANGS
HIGH; but doubtless ... it is derived from
the Southern sport (!) of Gander-pulling.'
EVE'S CUSTOM-HOUSE, subs. phr.
(venery). — The female pudendum.
EVIF, ad/, (back slang). — Five
EVIF-GEN = A crown, or five
shillings. EVIF-YANNEPS = five
pence.
EVIL, subs. (old). — A wife. For
synonyms, see DUTCH.
1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, or Rogue's
Lexicon. EVIL. A wife; a halter; mat-
rimony.
EVLENET-GEN, (back slang). —
Twelve shillings. EVLENETSITH-
NOMS = twelve months : gener-
ally known as a ' stretch.'
EWE.— See WHITE EWE and OLD
EWE.
EWE- MUTTON, subs, (common). —
An elderly strumpet or 'piece.'
EXALTED,///, adj. (old).— Hanged.
For synonyms, see LADDER. C/.,
elevated = drunk,
1836. MICHAEL SCOTT, Cruise of the
Midge, p. 226. Your great-grandfather
was EXALTED, was he ?— that is hanged, I
suppose ?
EXAM, subs, (school).— An abbre-
viation of ' Examination.'
1883. JAMES PAYN, Thicker than
Water, ch. xxi. It's a mere question of
political economy ; I read all about it for
my EXAM.— the supply will exceed the
demand.
EXASPERATE, verb (common). — To
over-aspirate the letter H.
1857. CUTHBERT BEDE, Verdant
Green, pt. II., ch. ix. Mr. Bouncer
replies, with a footman's bow, and a foot-
man's ^EXASPERATION of his h's.
EXCELLERS, subs, (military). — The
Fortieth Foot. [A pun upon its
number, XL + ERS.]
EXCRUCIATORS, subs, (common). —
Tight boots ; especially with
pointed toes.
EXECUTION-DAY, subs, (common). —
Washing day.
Exes.
361
Eye.
ExES,sut>s. (common).— J. An abbre-
viation of ' expenses. '
1871. Fun, 4 Nov. ' The Policeman's
Complaint.' Nay oft I'm told I've been
deceived, And of my x's I'm bereaved ;
So on the whole I muchly grieved By
information I received.
1883. Referee, 18 March, p. 3, col. 3.
The piece was ready, but the ' pie ces '
were not, and without the EXES Morton
would not allow the gas to be lighted or
the curtain to go up. It was a case of no
pay no play.
1890. MONTAGU WILLIAMS, Leaves
of a Life, I., p. 153. He was out for a
spree at the races, and I suppose he thought
he'd like to pay his EXES.
2. (colloquial). — An abbrevi-
ation of 'ex-officials,' 'ex-ministers, '
and so forth. As in TOM MOORE'S
' We x's have proved ourselves
not to be wise.'
EXIS-EVIF-GEN, (back slang). — Six
times five shillings, i.e., 305. All
monies may be reckoned in this
manner, either with YANNEPS or
GENS. EXIS - EVIF - YANNEPS,
literally, ' sixpence and fivepence
= elevenpence. ' EXIS GEN = six
shillings. EXIS siTH-NOMS = six
months. EXIS YANNEPS = Six-
pence.
EXPECTING, ///. (colloquial). —
With child.
EXPERIENCE DOES IT, phr. (com-
mon).— A dog- English rendering
of Experienta docet.
Ex PLATE RATE, verb (American). —
To hold forth ; explain in detail.
[From O. E. Expiate = to unfold.]
EXPLOSION, subs, (common). — A
delivery.
EXQUISITE, subs, (common). — A
fop. For synonyms, see DANDY.
EXTENSIVE, adv. (common).— For-
merly applied to a person's
appearance or talk; 'rather EX-
TENSIVE that ! ' intimating that
the person alluded to is showing
off, or ' cutting it fat.'
EXTINGUISHER, subs, (common). —
A dog's muzzle.
1890. Standard, 12 May, p. 5, col. 4.
I had to appear before Mr. Curtis-Bennett,
at West Kensington, to answer the charge
of the dog being at large without his EX-
TINGUISHER en evidence.
Ex TRUMPS,^, phr. (Winchester
College). — Extempore. To GO
UP TO BOOKS EX TRUMPS = tO go
to class without preparing one's
lesson.
EYE. — See ALL MY EYE.
TO PULL WOOL OVER THE
EYES. — See PULL WOOL.
TO KEEP THE EYES CLEAN,
SKINNED, or PEELED, verb. phr.
(American). — To be watchful ;
alert; with all one's wits about
one.
1837. C. OILMAN, Negro Domestic's
Recollections. Mans Ben ax 'em for sing
one hymn for 'em, cause he EYE CLEAN.
1865. New York Herald. My son,
afore you leave yer home, I want ter say
ter you, Thar's lots of pitfalls in the world
ter let young roosters through ; So keep a
padlock on yer mouth and SKIN YER
WEATHER EYE, But never advertise yerself
as being monstrous fly.
TO HAVE A DROP IN THE EYE,
verb. phr. (common). — To be
drunk. For synonyms, see
DRINKS and SCREWED.
1738. SWIFT, Pol. Convers., Dial. i.
You must own you had a DROP IN YOUR
EYE ; when I left you, you were half seas
over.
1837. BARHAM, /. L. (Black Mous-
quetaire"). In vain did he try With strong
waters to ply His friend, on the ground
Eyelashes.
362
Eye-water.
that he never could spy Such a thing as a
ghost with a DROP IN HIS EYE.
IN THE TWINKLING OF AN
EYE. — See BEDPOST.
To BET ONE'S EYES. — See BET.
MY EYES ! intj. phr. (common).
— An expression of surprise.
1837. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, ch.
viii. ' MY EYES, how green ! ' exclaimed
the young gentleman. ' Why a beak's a
madgst'rate.'
EYELASHES. To HANG ON BY THE
EYELASHES Or EYEBROWS, verb,
phr. (common). — To be very
tenacious ; also, by implication, to
be in a difficulty. Cf., HANG ON
BY THE SPLASH-BOARD.
EYE-LIMPET, subs, (common). — An
artificial eye.
EYE-OPENER, subs. (American). —
I. Drink generally ; specifically,
a mixed drink.
2. (general). — Anything sur-
prising or out of the way.
1879. Notes and Queries, $th S.j xi.,
140. His lecture must have been a lively
and profitable EYE-OPENER for the somno-
lence of a cathedral town.
1888. Cornhill Mag., March, p. 228.
If Joanna was ever so blessed as to hear
her sing ' Houp la ! ' it would be a regular
EYE-OPENER to her.
1889. Answers, 23 Feb., p. 194,
col. i. No doubt the enclosed will be an
EYE-OPENER for you.
3. (venery). — The penis. For
synonyms, see CREAMSTICK.
EYETEETH. To HAVE CUT ONE'S
EYETEETH, verb. phr. (collo-
quial).— To have learned wisdom.
1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (sth
ed). EYE-TEETH (s.), those immediately
under the eye ; also quickness or sharpness
of understanding and parts, are sometimes
so called.
1835. HALIBURTON, Clockmaker
i S., ch. xvi. Them 'ere fellers CUT
THEIR EYE-TEETH afore they ever sot foot
in this country, I expect.
EYE-WATER, subs, (common). — Gin.
For synonyms, see DRINKS.
1869. WHYTE MELVILLE, M. or N.,
p. 66. On this minnit, off at six, Buster ;
two bob an' a bender, and a three of
EYE-WATER, in?
1886. Judy, 4 August, p. 58. He
imbibed stupendous quantities of jiggered
gin, dog's nose, and Paddy's EYE-WATER.
ary
ACE, subs, (collo-
quial).— i. Con-
fidence ; bold-
ness ; also (more
frequently) im-
pudence : e.g. , ' I
like your FACE '
like your cheek. Once liter -
C/., CHEEK, JAW, GAB,
BROW, MOUTH, LIP, etc.
1610. BEN JONSON, The Alchemist.
' Dramatis Personae.' — FACE.
1617. MIDDLETON, A FaireQuarrell,
II., ii. I that had FACE enough to do the
deed, Cannot want tongue to speak it.
1668. ETHEREGE, She Would if She
Could, I., i. (1704), p. 95. I admire thy
impudence, I could never have had the
FACE to havewheadled the poor knight so.
1676. ETHEREGE, Man of Mode, V.,
i., in wks. (1704), 265. I am amazed to
find him here ! How has he the FACE to
come near you ?
1702. DEFOE, Shortest Way, in
Arber's Garner, vol. VII., p. 590. You
have butchered one king ! deposed another
king ! and made a mock king of a third !
and yet, you could have the FACE to
expect to be employed and trusted by the
fourth.
1714. Spectator, No. 566. A man
has scarce the FACE to make his court to a
lady, without some credentials from the
service to recommend him.
1854. F. E. SMEDLEY, Harry Cover-
dale, ch. liii. I can hardly suppose even
Phil Tirrett would have the FACE to throw
me over and ride for O'Brien.
1870. London Figaro, 3 June.
' Look at that girl in pink, Sancho,' he
said ; ' that's Lord Rubric's daughter.
Ran away with the family organist — that's
he with her. I like their FACE, though,
to come here ; it's awfully good.'
2. (common). — Credit. To
PUSH ONE'S FACE = to get credit
by bluster. - [See sense I and cf.,
FACE-ENTRY.]
1765. GOLDSMITH, Essays, VIII.
There are three ways of getting into debt :
first, by PUSHING A FACE ; as thus :
' You, Mr. Lutestring, send me home six
yards of that paduasoy, damme ; but,
harkee, don't think I ever intend to pay you
for it, damme." At this the mercer laughs
heartily ; cuts off the paduasoy, and sends
it home ; nor is he, till too late, surprised
to find the gentleman had said nothing
but the truth, and kept his word.
1865. BACON, Handbook of America,
p. 365. To RUN ONE'S FACE, to make
use of one's credit, TO RUN ONE'S FACE
for a thing is to get it ' on tick.'
1875. American English in Chamb.
Journal, 25 Sept., p. 610. To RUN YOUR
FACE, which means, to go upon credit.
3. (common). — A qualification
of contempt : e.g., ' Now FACE !
where are you a-shoving of?'
Verb (old).— To bully. — See
all senses, especially To FACE
WITH A CARD OF TEN.
1593. SHAKSPEARE, Taming of the
Shrew, iv.,.3- FACE not me; thou hast
brav'd many men ; brave not me ; I will
neither be FAC'D nor brav'd.
Face.
364
Facer.
TO FACE or OUT-FACE WITH
A CARD (»F TEN, verb. phr.
(old). — To browbeat; to 'bluff.'
[NARES : derived from some game
(possibly primero] wherein the
standing boldly upon a ten was
often successful. The phrase
originally expressed the confidence
of one player who with a ten, as
at brag, FACED or OUTFACED
one who had really a faced card
against him.]
1460-1529. SKELTON [quoted by
Nares.] First pycke a quarrel and fall out
>vith him then, And so OUT FACE HIM WITH
A CARD OF TEN.
1593. SHAKSPEARE, Taming of the
Shrew, ii. A vengeance on your crafty
wither'd hide, Yet 1 have FAC'D IT WITH
A CARD OF TEN.
1630. B. JONSON, New Inn, i., 3.
Some may be coats, as in the cards ; but
then Some must be knaves, some varlets,
bawds, and ostlers, As aces, duces, CARDS
o' TEN TO PACK IT OUT, i' the game
which all the world is.
TO FACE THE KNOCKER,
verb. phr. (tailors'). — To go
begging. For synonyms, see
CADGE.
TO HAVE NO FACE BUT ONE'S
OWN, verb. phr. (old). — To be
penniless ; or (gamesters') to hold
no court cards. Fr., ri avoir pas
une face — ' not to have a sou. '
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
s.v.
To MAKE FACES, verb. phr.
(prison). — I. To go back, or
* round ' upon a friend. [In allu-
sion to the convicts' habit of dis-
torting their features under the
lens.]
2. (old). — To beget children.
Cf.> FACE-MAKING.
To FACE THE MUSIC, verb,
phr. (American).— To meet an
emergency ; also to show one's
hand. [J. Fenimore Cooper
derived it from the green-roocn,
whence actors go on the boards
and literally FACE THE MUSIC.
Another traces it to militia
musters, where every man is
expected to appear equipped
and armed, when in rank and file,
FACING THE MUS-C. A third
derives it from drumming out of
the army.]
1857. Worcester Spy, 22 Sept.
Although such reverses would seem to fall
with crushing weight upon some of our
most substantial citizens, a strong deter-
mination to FACE THE MUSIC is every-
where manifested.
1888. Daily Inter-Ocean, 20 Feb.
I am sure Fred can explain everything
satisfactorily. I hope he hasn't read the
newspaper stories about him, for it might
scare him, and he'd very foolishly skip out.
That would be the worst thing he could do.
He must FACE THE MUSIC.
FACE- ENTRY, subs, (theatrical). —
Freedom of access, the personal
appearance being familiar to
attendants.
FACE- MAKING, verb. subs. (old). —
Begetting children. Cf.t MAKING
FEET FOR CHILDREN'S STOCKINGS.
FACER, subs, (pugilistic). — i. A
blow in the face.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
s.v.
1819. MOORE, Tom Crib's Memorial,
p. 24. In short, not to dwell on each
FACER and fall, Poor Georgy was done up
in no time at all.
1834. HARRISON AINSWORTH, Rook-
wood. 'The Double Cross.' No claret
flows, No FACERS sound — no smashing
blows.
1837. BARHAM, I.L. (The Ghost).
Whom sometimes there would come on A
sort of fear his spouse might knock his
head off, Demolish half his teeth, or drive
a rib in, She shone so much in FACERS and
in 'fibbing.'
1862. Athetueu-Hi, i Nov., p. 557,00!.
i. Before his unknown adversary well
Facey.
365
Fadge.
knew what was coming, the skilled fist of
the Professor had planted such a FACER as
did not require repetition.
1868. C. READE, Foul Play, ch. ii.
This was followed by a quick succession of
staggering FACERS, administered right and
left, on the eyes and noses of the subordi-
nates.
2. (common). — A sudden
check ; ' a spoke in one's "wheel.'
[By implication from sense I.]
I860. THACKERAY, Philip, ch. xl.
In the battle of life every man must meet
with a blow or two, and every brave one
would take his FACER with good humour.
1869. WHYTE MELVILLE, M. or N.,
p. 189. Dick Stanmore took his punish-
ment with true British pluck and perti-
nacity. It was a FACER.
3. (Irish). — A dram.
4. (old). — A bumper.
1785.]
[Grose,
5. (common). — A tumbler of
whiskey punch.
6. (American thieves'). — An
accomplice; a STALL (q.v.) or
FENCE ((].V.).
1859. MATSELL, Vocabulunt, or
Rogues Lexicon, s.v.
1881. New York Slang Diet., s.v.
FACEY, subs, (tailors'). — A fellow
workman vis-a-vis. FACEY ON
THE BI AS = one in front either to
right or left ; FACEY ON THE TWO
THICK == one working immediately
behind one's opposite.
FACINGS. — To BE PUT, or GO,
THROUGH ONE'S FACINGS, verb,
phr. (popular). — To be called to
account or scolded ; to exemplify
capacity; to 'show off.' [Mili-
tary.]
SILK-FACINGS, subs, (tailors').
— Stains upon work caused by
droppings of beer. [In allusion
to the ' watered ' silk trimmings
in front of a regimental jacket or
coat.]
FAD-CATTLE, subs. (old). — Easy
women. For synonyms, see
BARRACK-HACK and TART. [Cf.,
FADDLE = to toy + CATTLE
FADDIST (also FADMONGER), subs.
(colloquial). — A person (male or
female) devoted to the pursuit of
public fads: as 'social purity,'
moral art, free-trade in syphilis,
and so-forth.
FADDLE, verb (obsolete). — To toy
or trifle : as a subs. = a busy-
body ; a * nancified ' affected male.
Also FADDY = full of fads.
FADGE, subs, (common). — A far-
thing.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. — Fid-
dler ; farden ; gig, or grig ; quar-
tereen.
1789. GEO. PARKER, Life's Painter,
p. 178, s.v.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
1848. BUNCOMBE, Sinks of London,
s.v.
Verb (old). — To suit; to fit;
to agree with ; to come off.
[A.S., figan, fegean, to join,
to fit. Nares says, 'probably
never better than a low word :
it is now confined to the streets. ']
1593. NASHE, 4 Lett. Conf., in wks.
(Grosart) II., 215. They haue broght in
a new kind of a quicke sight, which your
decrepite slow-mouing capacitie cannot
FADGE with.
1594. SHAKSPEARE, Loves Labour
Lost, V., i., 154. We will haue, if this
FADGE not, an Antique.
1599. MASSINGER, Old Law, IV., ii.
Clean. My Lord ! Sim. Now it begins
to FADGE.
Fadger.
366
Faggot.
1636. T. HEYWOOD, Loves Mistress,
Act IV. Vukan .... I keep a dozen
journeymen at least, besides my Ci clops
and my Prentises, yet 'twill not FADGE.
1639. BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER,
Wit 'without Money, III., iv. Clothes I
must get ; this fashion will not FADGE with
me.
1678. QuacKs Academy, in Harl. Misc.
(ed. Park), ii., 32. That could never make
their untoward handicrafts FADGE to
purpose.
1750. WALPOLE, Lett, to Mann,
18 Oct. (1833), vol. II., p. 485. Alack!
when I came to range them, they did not
FADGE at all.
1819. SCOTT, in C. K. Sharpe's Cor-
respondence (1888), ii., 197. Pray let me
know . . . how matters FADGE in the great
city of Edinburgh.
1830. SCOTT, Doom of Devorgoil,
Act II., Sc. i. If this same gear FADGE
right, I'll cote and mouth her, And then !
whoop ! dead ! dead ! dead !
1851. G. BORROW, Lavengro, ch. Iv.,
p. 173 (1888). Any new adventure which
I can invent will not FADGE well with the
old tale.
FADGER, subs, (glaziers'). — A gla-
zier's frame ; otherwise a ' frail. '
FADMONGER, subs, (colloquial). —
A FADDIST (q.v.). FADMONGER-
ING, -verb. phr. (colloquial) =
dealing as a FADDIST (q.v. ) with
fads.
FAG, subs, (public schools').— i. A
boy who does menial work for a
schoolfellow in a higher form.
[From FAG, to grow weary.]
1855. THACKERAY, Newcomes, ch.
xviii. Bob Trotter, the diminutive FAG
of the studio, who ran on all the young
men's errands, and fetched them in apples,
oranges, and walnuts.
1857. G. A. LAWRENCE, Guy Li-ving-
stone, ch. i. Is still enumerated among
the feats of the brave days of old, by the
FAGS over their evening small beer.
2. (Christ's Hospital). — See
quot.
1850. L. HUNT, Autobiography, ch.
iii. FAG, with us [at Christ's Hospital],
meant eatables. The learned derived the
word from the Greek phago, to eat.
3. (American thieves'). — A
lawyer's clerk.
1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, or
Rogue s Lexicon, s.v.
Verb (public schools'). — i. To
do menial work for a school-
fellow in a higher form. Cf.,
FAG, szibs., sense i.
1884. Temple Bar, August, p. 514.
He must have completely marred his
chance of happiness at the school when he
refused to FAG and took countless thrash-
ings, snivelling.
2. (old).— To beat.
1754. B. MARTIN, Eng. Diet, (and
ed.).
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
FAG the bloss, beat the wench.
FAGGER, FIGGER, or FIGURE, subs.
(old). — A boy thief whose duty is
to enter houses by windows and
either open the doors to his con-
federates (as Oliver Twist with
Bill Sykes), or hand out the
' swag ' to them ; also LITTLE
SNAKESMAN (q.V.) ', C/., DlVER.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1848. DUNCOMBE, Sinks of London,
s.v.
FAGGING, or FAGGER Y, subs.
(public schools'). — Waiting upon
and doing menial work for a
school-fellow in a higher form.
Also used adjectively.
1853. DF, QUINCEY, Autob. Sketches,
i., 210. FAGGERY was an abuse too
venerable and sacred to be touched by
profane hands.
1873. Pall Mall Gazette, 17 May.
The Winchester ' tunding ' system, with
all its faults, is hardly less objectionable
than the FAGGING system pursued in the
Scotch endowed hospitals.
FAGGOT, subs, (common). — i. A
term of opprobrium applied to
women ; a ' baggage. ' [At one
time a faggot was a popular
symbol of recantation of opinions
Faggot.
367
Faggot-vote.
thought worthy only of burning
(Bailey, 1728), and heretics who
had thus escaped the stake were
required either to bear a faggot
and burn it in public, or to wear
an imitation on the sleeve as a
badge.] Also used in combina-
tion : e.g., BED- (or STRAW-)
FAGGOT = a wife, or mistress ;
TUMBLE - FAGGOT = a whore-
master ; CARRY - FAGGOT = a
mattress ; and SPIKE - (or
TICKLE)- FAGGOT (obsolete) =
the penis.
1820. REYNOLDS (' P. Corcoran'), The
Fancy, p. 16. I have got a FAGGOT here,
Aye, and quite a bad one ; Were I
married, p'rhaps my dear Might think that
he too had one.
2. (common). — See quot. , 1851.
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. ii., p. 255. He then
made his supper, or second meal, for tea he
seldom touched, on FAGOTS. This prepar-
ation ... is a sort of cake, roll, or ball, a
number being baked at a time, and is made
of chopped liver and lights, mixed with
gravy, and wrapped in pieces of pig's caul.
It weighs six ounces, so that it is unques-
tionably a cheap [it costs id. hot] and, to
the scavager, a savoury meal, but to other
nostrils it's odour is not seductive.
1870. London Figaro, 2 July. Have
you more than a penny ? A glorious per-
spective opens out before you of all the de-
licacies of the season, commencing with
trotters — the harmless mutton, or the suc-
culent swine; 'FAGGOTS,' etc.
1884. Cornhill Mag., June, p. 615.
They can obtain hot FAGGOTS, hot baked
potatoes, hot fried fish, or a cut of pork
with hot pease-pudding.
3. (old).— A'dummy' soldier; one
hired to appear at a muster to hide
deficiencies. Many names of
dummies would appear on the
muster-roll : for these the colonel
drew pay, but they were never in
the ranks.
1672-1719. ADDISON [quoted in Im-
perial Diet. ]. There were several counter-
feit books which were carved in wood, and
served only to fill up the number like
F AGOTS in the muster of a regiment.
1728. BAILEY, Diet., s.v.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue]
s.v.
Verb (old).— i. To bind hand
and foot ; to tie [as sticks into a
faggot]. Fr. , unjagot = a convict,
because bound to a common chain
on their way to the hulks.
1728. BAILEY, Diet., s.v.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue
s.v. FAGGOT the culls, bind the men.
1859. MATSELL, Vocalulum, or
Rogue's Lexicon, s.v.
2. (venery). — To copulate ;
also to frequent the company of
loose women.
FAGGOT- BRIEFS, subs, (political). —
Bundles of dummy papers some-
times carried by briefless barristers.
[Cf., FAGGOT, sense 3.]
1859. SALA, Twice Round the Clock,
10 a.m. Par. 10. The counsel chat and
poke each other in the ribs ; the briefless
ones, in the h'gh back rows, scribble cari-
catures on their blotting-pads, or pretend
to pore over FAGGOT BRIEFS.
1887. Co-tnhill Mag., June, p. 627.
FAGGOT BRIEFS . . . those bundles
of dummy papers sometimes carried by
the briefless ones.
FAGGOT EER, (also FAGGOT -
MASTER), subs, (venery). — A
whoremonger. J or synonyms,
see MOLROWER.
FAGGOT-VOTE, subs, (political). —
A vote secured by the purchase
of property under mortgage, or
otherwise, so as to constitute a
nominal qualification without a
substantial basis. [Derived by
some from FAGGOT, sense 3 ; by
others from the mode of manu-
facture, i.e., by the purchase of
property which is divided into as
many lots as will constitute
separate votes, and given to
different persons.]
1854. Notes and Queries, vol. X.,
p. 403. FAGGOT-VOTE. — Can you inform
Fains.
368
Fake.
me of the origin of the term used to denote
a spurious or fictitious vote, formed usually
by the nominal transfer of a sufficient
qualification to an otherwise unqualified
man ; this is called a FAGGOT VOTE.
1879. GLADSTONE, ist Midi. Speech,
25 Nov. Why, gentlemen, quite apart
from every question of principle, nothing,
I venture to say, can be so grossly im-
prudent as that which is familiarly known
in homely but most accurate phrase as the
manufacture of FAGGOT VOTES.
1887. Cornhdl Mag., June, p. 627.
FAGGOT VOTES .... the name is pro-
bably taken from an old military term.
FAINS! FAINITS! FAIN IT I intj.
(schoolboys'). — A call for truce
during the progress of a game with-
out which priority or place would
be lost ; generally understood to be
peferred ' in bounds,' or when out
of danger. [Thought to be a cor-
ruption of ' fend.']— bee BAGS !
FAIR-GANG, subs. (old). — Gypsies.
[From their habit of visiting fairs.]
FAIR- RATIONS, subs, (sporting). —
Fair dealings.
FAIR-SHAKE, subs. (American). —
A good bargain. [From a mea-
sure well shaken down. Cf.t
SHAKE.
FAIR-TRADE, subs, (nautical). —
Smuggling.
FAITHFUL. ONE OF THE FAITH-
FUL, subs. phr. (old).— i. A
drunkard. For synonyms, see
ELBOW-CROOKER.
1609. The Man in the Moone. This
fellow is ONE OF THE FAiTHFULL, as they
prophanelie terme him, said Opinion ; no
Heliogabalus at meat, but he will drinke
many degrees beyond a Dutchman*
2. (common). — A tailor giv-
ing long credit.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, or
Rogue's Lexicon. FAITHFUL. A tailor
that gives long credit. ' I say, Sam, what
kind of crib was that you cracked ? ' ' Oh !
it belonged to ONE OF THE FAITHFUL
FAITHFUL DURHAMS, subs. phr.
(military). — The Sixiy- Eight Foot.
fo. (common). — An action;
a proceeding ; a manoeuvre ; a
mechanical contrivance — an affair
of any kind irrespective of morals
or legality : generally used in a
sense specifically detrimental. In
America, a swindler. [Origin
dubious^: Barrere says, ' a very
ancient cant word,' but gives
no evidence. FAKEMENT (q.v.)
appears to be the older subs.
form (1785), while the verbal
usage is traced to Ainsworth's
4 FAKE away' ! in Rookwood
(1834). Conjecturally derived from
the Latin facere, to make, to
do : compare to which the French
slang use of faire. ]
1827. MAGINN, in Blackivood's Mag.
. . . the fogle - hunters doing Their
morning FAKE in the prigging lay.
[Circa, 1850, but date uncertain.]
' Bates' Farm.' I'm up to every little
FAKE, But in me there's no harm.
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 237. After that
we had a fine FAKE — that was the fire of
the Tower of London — it sold rattling.
1871. London Figaro, 21 Oct. Yet
they've been known for many a FAKE To
coolly set a trap.
1883. GREENWOOD, Tag, Rag, and
Co. Naming the house in the ridiculous
wav it was named was merely a FAKE to
draw attention to it.
1888. New York Mercury. Both
ladies then came to the conclusion that the
fortune-teller was a FAKE, and they decided
to notify the police.
1889. Globe, 23 July, p. 2, col. 2.
Good Gladstonites, flock up and take One
bottle of the Parnell FAKE.
Verb (common). — I. To do
anything ; to fabricate ; to cheat ;
to deceive, or devise falsely ;
Fake.
369
Fakement.
to steal ; to forge. A general
verb-of-all-work. In America
Fix (q,v. ) is employed much in the
same way, whilst the French
slang has/a/r^ ; maquiller;aquiger
or quiger ; and goupiner.
[In combination TO FAKE A SCREEVE
= to write a begging letter; TO FAKE
ONE'S SLANGS = to file through one's
fetters ; TO FAKE A CLY ($r.z>.)=to pick
a pocket ; TO FAKE THE SWEETENER
= to kiss ; TO FAKE THE DUCK = to
adulterate, to dodge ; TO FAKE THE
RUBBER = to stand treat; TO FAKE THB
BROADS = to pack the cards, or to work the
three-card trick ; TO FAKE A LINE
(theatrical)— to improvise a speech ; TO
FAKE A DANCE, Or A STEP, or A TRIP
(theatrical) = to perform what looks like,
but is not, dancing.]
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 390. The ring is
made out of brass gilt buttons, and stunning
well : it's FAKED up to rights, and takes a
good judge even at this day to detect it
without a test.
1861. READE, Cloister and Hearth,
ch. Iv. There the folk are music-bitten,
and they molest not beggars, unless they
FAKE to boot, and then they drown us
out of hand.
2. (sporting). — To hocus ;
to nobble ; to tamper.
1872. Morning Post, ^ Nov. Since
the FAKING of the scales in Catch-'em-
alive's year the oldest habitue of New-
market cannot recall so sensational a Cam-
bridgeshire week as the last one.
3. (theatrical). — Also TO FAKE
UP. To paint one's face ; to make
up a character.
1885. Sporting Times, 23 May. ' The
Chorister's Promise.' The landlady left,
and the chorister fair FAKED herself UP, and
frizzed her hair.
4. (American thieves'). — To
cut out the wards of a key.
1859. MATSELL, Vocabrdum, or
Ro&ue's Lexicon, s.v.
FAKE AWAY ! intj. phr, (com-
mon). — An ejaculation of en-
couragement.
1834. HARRISON AINSWORTH, Rook-
wood. The knucks in quod did my school-
men play, FAKE AWAY !
1846. Punch's A bnanack, ' Song of
September.' The partridge on its tender
wing Is up at break of day, But down the
bird my gun shall bring : Bang ! fizz, boys !
FAKE AWAY !
FAKE- BOODLE. — See BOODLE.
FAKED, ppl. adj. (common). —
Counterfeit ; sometimes FAKED-
UP. Fr., lophe.
1889. Answers, 15 June, p. 41, col. i.
In order to prevent any chance of a dis-
honest person winning by means of a
FAKED puzzle we shall provide a number
of puzzles ourselves, and these will be
used by all competitors.
FAKEMENT, subs. (old). — I. A
counterfeit signature ; a forgery ;
specifically a begging letter or
petition, Fr., brasser desfaffes — to
forge documents, i.e.,' TO SCREEVE
FAKEMKNTS ' ; un fafiot (also a
bank note, or shoe) ; and une
htque or un hiquet.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vutg: Tongue.
Tell the macers to mind their FAKEMENTS,
desire the swindlers to be careful not to
forge another person's signature.
1856. H. MAYHEW, Gt. World of
London, p. 46. Dependents of beggars ;
as screevers or the writers of 'slums'
(letters) and FAKEMENTS (petitions).
1857. DUCANGE ANGLICUS, The Vul-
gar Tongue, p. 39. Lawyer Bob draws
FAKEMENTS up ; he's tipped a peg for
each.
1889. Answers, 27 July, p. 137, col.
i. I have drawn up FAKEMENTS for sham
members of almost every trade, always
using a leading name at the head of the
list of donors.
2. (common). '— Generic for
dishonest practices ; but applied
to any kind of action, contrivance,
or trade. — See FAKE, subs., of
which it is an older usage. Cf.,
KlDMENT.
1838. GLASCOCK, Land Sharks and
Sea. Gulls, II., 4. That's right ; I see
you're fly to every FAKEMENT.
24
Fakeme n t- Charley. 37°
Famble.
1857. DUCANGE ANGLICUS. The
Vulg. Tongue, p. 44. For every day,
mind what I say, Fresh FAKEMENTS you
will find.
1859. H. KINGSLEY, Geqffry Hamlyn,
ch. v. I cultivated his acquaintance,
examined his affairs, and put him up to
the neatest little FAKEMENT in the world.
1876. C. HINULEY, Life and Adven-
tures of a Cheap Jack, p. 232. Stow your
gab and gauffery, To every FAKEMENT
I'm a-fly. Ibid., p. 233. I have got a pair
of highly polished steel spring snuffers with
extra FAKEMENT ; they will either snuff a
candle out or snuff a candle in.
1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude,
ch. iv., p. 254. You worked that little
FAKEMENT in a blooming quiet way, . . .
said my late neighbour.
1883. Daily Telegraph, 7 Aug., p. 6,
col. 2. Pair of moleskins [trousers], any
colour . . . with a double FAKEMENT
down the sides, and artful buttons at the
bottom.
3. (theatrical). — Small proper-
ties ; accessories.
FAKEMENT- CHARLEY, subs. phr.
(thieves'). — An owner's private
mark.
1864. HOTTEN, Slang Diet., s.v.
FAKER, subs, (common). — i. One
who makes, does, or 'fakes'
anything ; specifically a thief.
Found in many combinations :
e.g., BIT- FAKER ; FLUE FAKER ;
GRUB - FAKER ; SHAM - FAKER,
TWAT-FAKER^ etc.
1851. G. BORROW, Lavengro, ch.
xxxi., p. 112 (1888). We never calls
them thieves heie, but prigs and FAKERS.
1857. DUCANGE ANGLICUS, Vulg.
Tongue. FAKER, a jeweller (theatrical).
1869. GEOKGE MACDONALD, Robert
Falconer, pt. III., ch. x. Them pusses
is mannyfactered express for the con-
venience o' the FAKERS.
1885. Daily Telegraph, i August,
p. 2, col. i. ' I've turned FAKER of dolls
and dolls' furniture ; like what you see us
working on now." 'And when you say
FAKER you mean — ' Renowater,1 struck in
Miss Menders.
1887. BAUMANN, Londonismen, p. 5-
Piratical FAKERS Of bosh by the acres.
2. (circus). — A circus rider or
performer.
3. (venery). — A prostitute's
FANCY-MAN (q.v.}.
FAKES AND SLUMBOES, ,subs. phr.
(theatrical). — Properties ; acces-
sories of any kind.
FAKING, verb. subs, (common). —
The act of doing anything. [From
FAKE (q.V.} + ING.] Fr., le
maquillage or le goupinage.
FALL, verb (thieves'). — i. To be
arrested.
1883. HORSLEV, Jottings front Jail
[in Echo}. A little time after this I FELL
again at St. Mary Cray for being found at
the back of a house.
2. (venery). — To conceive.
For synonyms, see LUMPY.
FALL OF THE LEAF, subs. phr.
(old). — Hanging. [In allusion to
the fall of the drop.] For syno-
nyms, see LADDER.
1789. G. PARKER, Variegated Charac-
ters. He was knocked down for the crap
the last sessions. He went off at the FALL
OF THE LEAF at Tuck'em Fair.
FALSE- HEREAFTER, subs. (Ameri-
can).— A bustle. For synonyms,
see BIRD-CAGE.
FAM. — See F AMBLING-CHEAT and
FAMBLE.
FAMBLE, FAM, or FEM, subs. (old).
— 'Ihe hand. Cf., FAMBLING-
CHEAT. For synonyms, see
BUNCH OF FIVES and DADDLE.
[German slang has Fehm, Vehm^
or Vehn, and is apparently the
same word as he English FAM.
A likely etymon is the Swed. and
Dan. fern, five.]
Famblers.
37i Family of Love.
1567. HARMAN, Caveat (1814), p. 64,
s.v. 1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all,
p. 38 (H. Club's Repr., 1874). FAMBLES.
handes.
1662 FLETCHER, Beggars Bush, ii.,
i. We clapt our FAMBLES.
1724. E. COLES, Eng. Diet., s.v.
1815. SCOTT, Guy Mannering, ch.
xxviii. If I had not helped you with these
very FAMBLES (holding up her hands).
1819. MOORE, Tom Crib's Memorial,
p. 28. Allowing for delicate FAMS, which
have merely Been handling the sceptre, and
that, too but queerly.
1878. C. HINDLEY, Life and Times
of James Catnach. So kiddy is my
FAMBLE.
Verb (old). — To touch; to
handle ; especially with a view
to ascertaining the whereabouts
of valuables. Also termed TO
FAM FOR THE PLANT, and TO
RUN A RULE OVER. To FAM A
DONNA = to take liberties with a
woman ; to FIRKY-TOODLE (q.v. ) ;
to CROSS-FAM (q.V. ).
RAMBLERS, FAMBLING - CHEATS
(q.v.) or FAM-SNATCHERS(^.Z/.),
subs. (old). — Gloves.
1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all,
p. 38 (H. Club's Repr., 1874), s.v.
RAMBLING-CHEAT, FAMBLE, or
FAM, subs. (old). — A ring; also
(about 1694) gloves, which later
still were also called FAM-
SNATCHERS (q.V.). [From FAM-
BLE, a hand + A.S. CHETE (q.v.),
a thing.]
1567. HARMAN, Caveat (1814), p. 64.
A FAMBLING CHETE, a ring on thy hand.
1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all,
p. 38 (H. Club's Repr., 1874). FAMBLING
CHEATES, Rings.
1688. SHADWELL, Sq. of Alsatia,
II., in wks. (1720), iv., 47. Look on my
finger, sirrah, look here ; here's a FAMBLE.
1694. DUNTON, Ladies'1 Diet., s.v.
F AMBLE-CHE ATS, rings or gloves.
1724. E. COLES, Eng. Diet.
FAMBLE CHEATS, i ings or gloves.
178;). GEO. PARKER, Life's Painter,
p. 180. FAM, A gold ring.
FAM - GRASP, verb (old). — To
shake hands. Also substantively,
hand-shaking.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
FAMILIARS, subs, (common). — Lice.
For synonyms, see C HATES.
FAMILIAR-WAY, subs, (common). —
With child.
FAMILY DISTURBANCE, subs.
(American). — Whiskey. For
synonyms, see DRINKS.
FAMILY - HOTEL, subs. (old). — A
prison. For synonyms, see CAGE.
[C/l, FAMILY-MAN.]
1857. Punch, 31 Jan. In a ward
with one's pals, Not locked up in a cell,
To an old hand like me its a FAM-LY HOTEL.
FAMILY- MAN, subs. (old). — A thief ;
specifically, a FENCE (q.v.). [In
allusion to the fraternities into
which thieves were at one time
invariably banded.]-^^ THIEVES.
1749. BAMFYLDE MOORE -CAREW.
' Oath of the Canting Crew.' No dum-
merar, or romany ; No member of THE
FAMILY.
1788. G. A. STEVENS, Adv. of a
Specialist, L, 221. Let the people say
what they will against gamesters, gamblers,
Or FAMILY-MEN.
1838. GLASCOCK, Land Sharks and
Sea Gulls, II., 100. This house . . . was
a favourite resort of THE FAMILY, or, to
speak with less reserve, it was a thieves'
house.
1857. SNOWDEN, Mag. Assistant,
[3rd ed.], p. 444. Thieves: FAMILY-MEN.
FAMILY OF LOVE, subs. phr.
(venery). —A company of pros-
titutes.
Family-plate.
372
Fancy.
FAMILY- PLATE, subs, (common). —
Silver money. For synonyms,
see ACTUAL and GILT.
FAMILY- POUND, subs, (common). —
A family grave.
FAM-LAY, mbs. (thieves'). — Shop-
lifting. [From FAM, a hand +
LAY, a performance.]
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
s.v.
1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, or
Rogues Lexicon, s.v.
FAM-SNATCHERS, subs. (old). —
Gloves. Cf., FAMBLING-CHEAT.
c. 1824. PIERCE EGAN, Finish to L'fe
in London. To Jerry Hawthorn, Esq., I
resign my FAM-SNATCHERS, i.e., my gloves.
FAM - SQUEEZE, subs. (old). —
Strangulation.
FAM - STRUCK, adj. and adv.
(thieves'). —Baffled in ascertaining
the whereabouts of valuables on
• the person of an intended victim ;
also handcuffed.
FAN, subs, (thieves'). — A waist-
coat; said by Hotten (1864) to
be a Houndsditch term, but
quoted in Matsell (1859) as
American.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. — Ben ;
benjie; M.B. waistcoat; Charley
Prescot.
FBENCH SYNONYMS. — Ungil-
mont (thieves') ; un georget
(popular : = a breast-plate) ; un
casimir (popular) ; une camisole
(popular : properly, a kind of
petticoat -bodice worn by women);
un croisant (popular).
GERMAN SYNONYMS. — Brust-
malbisch ; Kreuzspanne (Hano-
verian) ; Nefesch (Ave-L^llement
suggests identity with \hzFischness
of Zimmermann, a word said
to be derived from the English
* fashion. ' Probably, however,
the true etymon is the Hebrew
nephesch, in allusion to a waist-
coat covering the chest and heart,
the seat of life. German ladies
call a scarf or shawl [which pro-
tects the same region] Seelen-
•wdrmer, i.e., a soul-warmer) ;
Zwangerling ( — fitting closely to
the body ; cf., Weitling, Hanover-
ian Weitchen^ the trousers = wide).
1857. SNOWDEN, Mag. Assistant, 3rd
ed., p. 444, s.v.
Verb (old).— I. To beat ; to
be-rate. For synonyms, see BASTE
and TAN.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue. I
FANND him sweetly, I beat him heartily.
1887. W. O. TRISTRAM, in Eng. III.
Mag., v., 228. The coachman now has
recourse to all the dark arts of persuasion
and the whip, FANNING them, which, in the
tongue of coachmen, is whipping them.
2. (thieves'). — To feel ; to
handle (with a vie\* to ascertain
if a victim has anything valuable
about his person). [Cf., FAM, of
which it is possibly a corruption.]
Also to steal from the person.
1851-1861. H. MAYHEW, Lon. Lab.
and Lon. Poor, IV., 319. Before Joe
said anything to me, he had FANNED the
gentleman's pocket, i.e., had felt the
pocket and knew there was a handker-
chief.
QUEEN ANNE'S FAN. — See
ANNE'S FAN.
FANCY, suds. (old). — The fraternity
of pugilists : prize-fighting being
once regarded as THE FANCY
par excellence. Hence, by impli-
cation, people who cultivate a
special hobby or taste. Cf.,
FANCY- BLOKE.
1818. P. EGAN, Boxiana, vol. I., p. 355.
The various gradationsof THE FANCY hither
Fancy-bloke.
373
Fancy-man.
resort, to discuss matters incidental to
pugilism.
1848. THACKERAY, Book of Snobs'
ch. xiv. Mr. William Ramm, known to
THE FANCY as the Tutbury Pet.
1860. Chambers' Journal, vol. XIII.,
P- I53-
FANCY- BLOKE, subs, (common). —
i. A sporting man. [From
FANCY (q.v.) + BLOKE, a man.]
2. (venery). — See FANCY-MAN.
FANCY- HOUSE, subs, (venery). —
A brothel ; also a HOUSE OF
ACCOMMODATION (q.V. ). For
synonyms, see NANNY-SHOP.
FANCY- JOSEPH, subs, (venery). — A
prostitute's boy, or apple-squire, or
CUPID (q.v.). For synonyms, see
BULLY and FANCY-MAN.
FANCY- LAY, subs. (old). — Pugilism.
[From FANCY (^.^.) + LAY (q.v.)
= an undertaking or pursuit.]
1819. MOORE, Tom Crib's Memorial,
p. 36. We, who're of the FANCY-LAY, As
dead hands at a mill as they, And quite as
ready, after it, To share the spoil and grab
the bit.
FANCY-MAN or BLOKE, suds
(venery). — A prostitute's lover,
husband, or pensioner. [There
are two suggested derivatioms ;
^i) that FANCY here bears its face
value ; (2) that it is a corruption
of the Fr. fiance.] FANCY-
woMAN = a mistress or KEEP
(q.v.}. For synonyms, see BULLY
and infra.
1821. P. EGAN, Tom and Jerry, p. 20.
Although ' one of the fancy,' he was not a
FANCY MAN.
1839. HARRISON AINSWORTH, Jack
Sheppard [1889], p. 70. 'And me,' in-
sinuated Mrs. Maggot. ' My little FANCY
MAN'S quite as fond of me as of you, Bess.
Ain't you, Jacky darling ?'
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, Lon. Lab. and
Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 186. The women of
the town buy of me, when it gets late, for
themselves and their FANCY MEN.
1857. SNOWDEN, Mag. Assistant.
(3rd ed.), p. 446, s.v.
1885. Indoor Paupers, p. 38. The
most degraded are the men who subsist by
fastening upon street harlots and sharing
their wretched earnings. When their mis-
tresses come to grief, and are placed under
lock and key, which happens frequently,
the FANCY MAN generally manages to
skulk out of the mischief and escape scot-
free.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Apple-
squire ; faker ; bully ; ponce ;
Pensioner ; Sunday-man ; fancy -
oseph ; squire of the body ;
fucker ; apron - squire ; cunt-
pensioner ; petticoat pensioner ;
prosser; twat - faker ; twat-
master; stallion; mack; bouncer ;
bruiser ; buck.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Un
Des Grieux (popular : the hero of
Manon Lescaut) ; un aquarium
(pop. : an assembly of fancy-men ;
cf.t maqtiereau = 2i mackerel) ; un
cousin de Moise (pop. : a ' fast '
man who has married a demi-
mondaine ; Delvau says, ' dans
F argot dti peuple, quifait allusion
aux deux lignes defeu dont sont
ornees les tempes dti legislateur
des Hlbreux ') ; un caprice (pop. :
un caprice serieux =a man who
keeps a mistress) ; un paillasson
(pop. : = a mattress) ; un dos ; un
marlou.
GERMAN SYNONYMS. Bal-
hoche (from Hebrew baal, a man
+ hocho, here, there. Literally,
one in possession but removable) ;
Strichler or Strichbube (Strich =
a fast locality) ; Strawcs ; Strawes-
zunder (Viennese : from strizeln
= to run quickly).
ITALIAN SYNONYM. Bramoso.
SPANISH SYNONYMS. Comb-
lezado (obsolete : applied to a
Fancy-piece.
374
Farm.
married man whose wife lives in
adultery with another) ; mandilejo
(vulgar).
FANCY- PIECE, subs, (venery). — A
prostitute. For synonyms, see
BARRACK-HACK and TART.
FANCY-WORK. To TAKE IN FANCY
WORK. verb. phr. (popular). —
To play the prostitute on the
sly ; in the language of venery,
' to work for one's living and do
the naughty for one's clothes.'
Said of women (as milliners, dress-
makers, shop girls, and so forth)
in receipt of low wages yet dressing
well and having plenty of money.
' How does she do it ? ' ' Oh ! she
TAKES IN FANCY-WORK!' C/.t
FANCY-HOUSE and RIDE.
bs. (common). — Asortof
round hat with a long leathern fan-
shaped flap at the back ; worn
by coal-heavers and dustmen ; a
SOU'- WESTER (q.V.).
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. II., p. 199. He had
good strong lace boots, gray worsted
stockings, a stout pair of corduroy breeches,
a short smockfrock and FANTAIL.
1_877. J. GREENWOOD, Dick Temple,
ch. xiii. I fancy I see you, for example,
with knee breeches and calves and a FAN-
TAIL, shouldering an inky sack and shoot-
ing its contents into a hole in the pavement.
FANTEAGUE. ON THE FANTEAGUE,
adv. phr. (colloquial). — On the
' burst,' or on the ' loose.'
FAR- BACK, subs, (tailors'). — An
indifferent workman ; an ignora-
FANG- FAKER, subs, (common). —
A dentist. [From FANG, a long
pointed tooth + FAKER (q.v.}.~\
FANG-CHOVEY = a dental estab-
lishment.— See CHOVEY.
FANNING, verb. subs, (thieves'). —
i. Stealing; CROSS-FANNING =
. robbery from the person, the
arms of the manipulator being
folded.
2. (old). — A beating. [From
FAN (q.v.), to beat + ING.]
FANNY (also FANNY-ARTFUL and
FANNY-FAIR), subs, (venery). —
The. female pudendum. For
synonyms, see MONOSYLLABLE.
FANNY ADAMS, subs. phr. (naval). —
Tinned mutton.
FANNY BLAIR, subs. phr. (rhyming
slang). — The hair. For syno-
nyms, see TOP-DRESSING.
1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, or
Rogue's Lexicon, s.v.
FAR DEN, subs, (common). — A
farthing. For synonyms, see
FADGE.
1880. MILLIKEN, Punch's A Imanack,
May. Otherwise don't care one brass
FARDEN, For the best ever blowed in
Covent Garden.
FARM, subs, (common). — i. An
establishment where pauper child-
ren were lodged and fed at so
much a head ; also for ille-
gitimate children. Also verbally
= to contract to feed and lodge
pauper or illegitimate children.
183S. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, ch. ii.
The parish authorities magnanimously and
humanely resolved, that Oliver should be
FARMED, or, in other words, that he should
be despatched to a branch workhouse some
three miles off, where twenty or thirty
other juvenile offenders against the poor-
laws, rolled about the floor all day, without
the inconvenience of too much food or too
much clothing, under the parental superin-
tendence of an elderly female, who received
the culprits at and for the consideration of
sevenpence-halfpenny per small head per
week.
18t»9. GREENWOOD, Seven Curses of
London. There can be no question that
Farmer.
375
Fast.
he has a better chance . . . though his
treacherous ' adopter ' deserts him on a
Moorstep, than if he were so kindly cruel as
to tolerate his existence at the FARM.
2. (prison). — The prison in-
firmary. TO FETCH THE FARM =
to be ordered infirmary diet and
treatment. — See FETCH.
FARMER, suds. (old). — I. An alder-
man.
1848. DUNCOMBE, Sinks of London,
s v. 18=i9. MATSELL, Vocabulum> or
Rogues Lexicon^ s.v.
2. (common). — One who con-
tracts to lodge and feed pauper
or illegitimate children.
1869. GREENWOOD, Seven Curses oj
London. These are not the FARMERS who
append to their advertisements the notifi-
cation that children of ill-health are not
objected to.
FART, subs, (vulgar). — An eruption
of wind through the anus. [A.S.
feort.~\ By implication a con-
temptible person. Also verbally
= to discharge wind through
the anus, Fr., lacier une pastille.
1383. CHAUCER, The Millers Tale.
This Nicholas anon let fleen a FART As
gret as it had been a thonder dint.
1610. BEN JONSON, The Alchemist,
\., i. Thy worst ! I FART at thee.
1750. FIELDING, Tom Jones, 'I
don't give a FART for 'n,' says the squire,
suiting the action to the word.
1785. BURNS, Death and Dr. Horn-
book. But Dr. Hornbook with his art And
cursed skill, Has made them baith no
worth a F T.
FART-CATCHER, subs, (vulgar). —
A footman. [That is, one who
follows another closely ; cf. ,
FART.] Other names are flunkey;
John Thomas ; James ; catch-
fart ; and CALVES (q.v.).
FART-DANIEL, subs, (venery). — The
female pudendttm. For syno-
nyms, see MONOSYLLABLE.
FARTHING. NOT TO CARE A
BRASS FARTHING,//&?-. (common).
— To care nothing. Chaucer
uses the expression 'no farthing
of grease ' as equivalent to a
small quantity. [James II. de-
based the coinage and issued
brass pence, halfpence, and
farthings. ]
FARTICK (also FARTKIN), subs.
(vulgar). — A diminutive of FART
(q.V.}.
PARTING-CRACKERS, subs. (old).
- Breeches. For synonyms, see
BAGS and KICKS.
FARTING-TRAP, subs. (Irish).— A
jaunting car. [An allusion to
the effects of the rough-driving
iicles.1
of the rou£
character of these vehicl
FARTLEBERRIES, subs. (vulgar). —
Excrement on the hair about the
anus} also BILBERRIES (q.v.) or
CLINKERS (q.V.).
FART-SUCKER, subs. phr. (com-
mon).— A vile parasite ; an * arse-
hole creeper.'
FAST, adj. and adv. (colloquial).— I.
Embarrassed ; * hard-up ' ; ' in a
tight place.'
2. (colloquial). — Dissipated ;
addicted to GOING THE PACE
(q.v.) : e.g., a FAST man=a rake-
hell, or spendthrift ; a FAST
woman = a strumpet ; a FAST life
= a life of debauchery; a FAST
house = a brothel, or a sporting
tavern ; to dress FAST=to dress
for the town ; to live FAST = to
* go the pace,' and so forth.
1751. SMOLLETT, Peregrine^ Pickle
ch. IxxxviiL He returned to his former
course of FAST living among the bucks of
the town.
Fast.
376
Fat.
1846. THACKERAY, V.F., vol. t., ch.
xxvi. ' He's going it pretty FAST,' said the
clerk. ' He's only married a week, and I
saw him and some other military chaps
handing Mrs. Highflyer to her carriage
after the play. '
1860. The Atlas, ^ July. Lord
William belongs to the genus FAST and we
presume to the species soft — contradic-
tions more apparent than real.
1870. Daily Telegraph, n July.
Having a delightful air of being mildly
FAST and decorously on the loose.
1880. G. R. SIMS, Three Brass
Balls, Pledge xi. She knew he could not
afford to gamble and keep FAST company
night after night.
3. (common). - - Impudent ;
' cheeky ' : e.g. , ' Don't you be so
FAST ' = Mind your own business.
TO PLAY FAST AND LOOSE,
verbal phr. (colloquial). — To be
variable ; inconstant ; to say one
thing and do another. [From the
ancient game now known as
PRICK THE GARTER (q.V.).]
1557. Tottef s Miscellany, p. 157
(Arber's ed.), ' Of a new maried studient
that PLAIED FAST OR LOSE ' [Title of Epi-
gram].
1593. G. HARVEY, New Letter, in
wks., i., 274 (Grosart). If he PLAYETH
AT FAST AND LOOSE (as is vehemently
suspected by strong presumptions) whom
shall he cunny catch, or cros-bite, but his
cast -away selfe ?
1599. JONSON, Ev. Man out of his
Hum., I. Nor how they PLAY FAST AND
LOOSE with a poor gentleman's fortunes, to
get their own.
1622. CHAPMAN AND SHIRLEY, The
Ball, Act ii. Fr. Is't come to this? if
lords PLAY FAST AND LOOSE, What shall
poor knights and gentlemen ?
1710. WARD, Vulgus Britannicus,
ch. iv., p. 50. On second Thoughts, we
should excuse, The People's PLAYING FAST
AND LOOSE.
1852. DICKENS, Bleak House, ch.
Ivii., p. 477. I'm a practical one, and
that's my experience. So's this rule.
FAST AND LOOSE in one thing, FAST AND
LOOSE in everything.
FASTENER, orFASTNER, subs. (old).
— A warrant.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v. ;
1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, or Rogues
Lexicon, s.v.
FAST- FUCK, subs, (prostitutes'). —
An act of trade done standing, or
at least in quick time : as opposed
to trade with an all-night lodger.
FAT, subs, (thieves'). — i. Money ;
Fr. , de la graisse ( = grease or
tallow). For synonyms, see ACT-
UAL and GILT.
1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, or
Rogue's Lexicon, s.v.
2. (printers'). — Composition
full of blank spaces or in many
lines. Verse is FAT, while this
dictionary, with its constant
change of type, is LEAN (q.v. ).
Hence, work that pays well. Fr.,
une affaire juteuse = '& 'fat job.'
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. FAT
amongst printers means void spaces.
1856. Notes and Queries, 2 S., I., 283,
s.v.
1868. O. W. HOLMES, Guardian
Angel, ch. xxiv., p. 203 (Rose Lib.). If
collected and printed in large type, with
plenty of what the unpleasant printers call
FAT ensuring thereby blank spaces upon
. . . thick paper.
1885. Athenceum, 27 June, p. 817,
col. i. With the aid of wide margins and
a liberal amount of FAT, as the printers
call it, the text is doled out in pages of
but nineteen lines each, and thus the three
articles are successfully expanded into a
booklet of over two hundred pages.
3. (theatrical). — A good part ;
telling lines and conspicuous or
commanding situations. [C/i,
sense 2.] Fr. , avoir des cfaelettes
= to have a BIT OF FAT (Diction-
naire Historique et Pittoresque du
Thedtre. Paris, 1884).
1883. Referee, 18 March, p. 2, col.
4. They look miserable because they have
nothing to do, all the FAT having been
seized by Terry.
Fat-arsed.
377
Father.
1888. Referee, 15 April, 3, t. I don't
want to rob Miss Claremont of her FAT,
but her part must be cut down.
Adj. (general). — I. Rich ;
abundant ; profitable.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
s.v. FAT cull, a rich fellow.
1888. Pitch's Library, May, p. 25.
This would make the labour so much
lighter, that every time a girl went to set
a pound of candy she would consider that
she had a good F A.T take.
2. (Australian). — Good. [An
old English usage.]
</. 1626. MIDDLETON [works, II.,
422], O, for a bowl of FAT canary, Rich
Aristippus, sparkling sherry ! Some nectar
else from Juno's dairy, O, these draughts
would make us merry.
1890. Speaker, 22 Feb., p. 212, col. 2.
As ' good ' in English is FAT in Australian,
the story is probably true about the mis-
sionary— not a story of Dr. Lumholtz's.
After many years of work in the field, this
good missionary was taken apart by some
anxious but meagre inquirers in his flock.
Sir, said they, must a man be very FAT
to enter the Kingdom of Heaven? He
was able to reassure them.
CUT IT FAT. — See CUT.
CUT UP FAT. — See CUT UP.
BIT OF FAT, subs. phr.
popular). — See subs.) senses 2 and
3 ; also adj. in both senses : and
(venery) connection with a stout
woman.
ALL THE FAT'S IN THE FIRE,
phr. (common). — Said of failures
and of the results of sudden and
unexpected revelation ; disappoint-
ments : i.e., it is all 'over' or
* up ' with a person or thing. A
late equivalent is, ' And then the
band played.'
FAT AS A HEN'S FOREHEAD,
adv. phr. (old). — Meagre ;
SKINNY (q.v.}.
FAT- (also BARGE-, BROAD- and
HEAVY-) ARSED, adj. phr.
(common). — Broad in the breech ;
and, by implication, in Richard
Baxter's Shove to Heavy Arsed
Christians, thick-witted and slow
to move.
FAT- (also THICK-) CHOPS, subs.
(common). — A contumelious
epithet.
FAT-COCK, subs, (common). — An
epithet rather jocular than de-
risive for a stout and elderly man;
also (venery) a DOUBLE-SUCKER
FATER, FAYTOR, or FATOR, subs.
(old). — A fortune-teller. Lexicon
Balatronicum\\$>\\\. In Spencer
= a doer; in Bailey = an idle
fellow ; a vagabond. [From Fr.
faiteur.~\
FAT-FANCIER, (or -MONGER,) subs.
(venery). — An amateur of stout
women.
FAT- FLA B. subs. (Winchester School).
— A cut off the fat part of a breast
of mutton. — See CAT'S HEAD.
FAT- (or FULL-) GUTS, subs.
(common). — An opprobrious epi-
thet for a fat man or woman.
FAT-HEAD, subs, (common). — A
dolt.
FAT-HEADED, -SKULLED,
-THOUGHTED, -PATED, -BRAINED,
and -WITTED (colloquial) = dull;
stupid ; slow.
1885. MRS. J. H. RIDDELL, Mitre
Court, ch. xix. He is a FATHEAD— a
great blundering John Bull.
FATHER, subs, (thieves').— i. A
receiver of stolen property ; a
FENCE .V..
Father Derbies' Bands. 378
Feager.
2. (general). — A chief in
authority ; an elder : e.g., THE
FATHER OF THE HOUSE = the
oldest member of the House of
Commons (cf., BABE) ; among
printers, the chairman of the
CHAPEL, the intermediary between
rmster and men ; in naval circles,
the builder of a man-of-war or
Government ' bottom.'
FATHER DERBIES' BANDS.— See
DARBIES.
FATHER'S BROTHER, suds. phr.
(common). — A pawnbroker; MY
UNCLE (q.v.).
FAT JACK OF THE BONE-HOUSE,
subs. phr. (common). — A contu-
melious epithet for a very stout
FAT- MUTTON, subs, (venery). — A
FAT BIT (see BIT OF FAT), i.e., a
stout bed-fellow.
FATN ESS, subs, (common). — Wealth.
Cf., F AT = rich.
FATTEN-UP, verb (theatrical). — To
write FAT (stibs., sense 3) into a
part.
FAT- u N , jwfo. (common). — An emis-
sion of wind from the anus of
peculiar rankness ; a ' roarer '
(Swift).
FATTY (or FATYMUS, or FATTYMA),
subs, (colloquial). — A jocular
epithet for a fat man ; a comic
endearment for a fat woman.
FAUGH - A- BALLAGH BOYS, subs,
phr. (military). — The Eighty-
Seventh Foot ; also known as THE
EAGLE-TAKERS (q.V.}, and THE
OLD FOGS (q.v.}. [From Fag an
bealac=' Clear the Way,' the
name of the regimental march.]
FAULKNER, subs, (old).— A tum-
bler ; juggler. Lex. Balat. [1811]
and Buncombe's Sinks of London
[1848].
FAWNEY, or FAUNEY, subs, (com-
mon).— I. A ring ; Fr., une
brobuante ; une broquille ; un
chason ; Fourbesque, cerchiosa.
2. A swindle (also called FAW-
NEY-DROPPING, or RIG), worked
as follows : — A ring (snide) is
let drop in front of a passer-by,
who picks it up, and is con-
fronted by the dropper, who claims
to share. In consideration of
immediate settlement he offers to
accept something less than the
apparent value in cash. Also done
with pocket-books, meerschaum
pipes, etc. FAWNEY-DROPPER =
one that practices the ring-drop-
ping trick; FAWNEY- BOUNCING
= selling lings for a pretended
wager; FAWNIED = ringed.
1789. GEO. PARKER, Life's Painter,
p. 174. Fawny. An old, stale trick,
called ring-dropping.
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 471. He wears
a stunning FAWNY (ring) on his finger.
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 389. I do a
little in the FAWNEY DROPPING line ;
(FAWNEYS are rings).
1857. DUCANGE ANGLICUS, The
Vulgar Tongue, p. 39. FAWNEY-
DROPPERS gammon the flats and take the
yokels in.
1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, or
Rogue's Lexicon, p. 124. And where
. . . The Chips, the FAWNEYS, Chatty-
feeders, The bugs, the boungs, and well-
filled readers.
FEAGER, subs. (old). — See quot. and
cf., FEAKER.
1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all,
p. 38 (H. Club's Repr., 1874). A FEAGER
of Loges, one that beggeth with counter-
feit writings.
Feague.
379
Feather.
FEAGUE, verb (old). — To send
packing ; to whiff away.
1826. SCOTT, Journal [pub. 1890], I.,
205. Though this he Monday, I am not
able to FEAGUE it away, as Bayes says —
[The reference, as furnished by Dr.
Murray to Mr. David Douglas, editor of the
Journal (i8go), is to certain editions of
Buckingham's farce, The Rehearsal \ ' I
lay my head close to it with a snuff-box in
my hand, and FEAGUE it away.]
PEAK, sttbs. (old). — The fundament.
Lex. Balat. [1811].
FEATHER, subs, (colloquial). — i.
Kind ; species ; company ; cf.,
BIRDS OF A FEATHER. For syn-
onyms, see KIDNEY.
1608. DEKKER, Belman of London,
in wks. (Grosart), III., 140. And he
delivers it either to a Broker or some
Bawd (for they all are of one FEATHER).
1609. SHAKSPEARE, Timon of
Athens, Act i., Sc. i. I am not of that
FEATHER, to shake off My friend when he
must need me.
2. in pi. (common). — Money;
wealth.— [See FEATHER ONE'S
NEST.] For synonyms, see ACT-
UAL AND GILT.
3. (venery). — The female
pubic hair (PRIOR and T. MOORE).
For synonyms, see FLEECE.
IN FULL FEATHER, adv. phr.
(colloquial). — I. Rich. — [See
sense 2.]
1871. MRS. H. WOOD, Dene Hollow.
ch. xxx. And now things went on
swimmingly. Captain Clanwaring, IN
FEATHER as to cash, at least temporarily,
was the gayest of the gay.
1886. Graphic, 30 Jan., p. 130, col. 2.
On these generally convivial occasions,
Watty, by reason of his office [butler], was
of course always IN FULL FEATHER.
2. (colloquial).— Tn full cos-
tume ; ' with all one's war paint
on.'
IN HIGH or FULL FEATHER,
adv. phr. (colloquial). — Elated ;
brilliant ; conspicuous.
1852. H. B. STOWE Uncle Toms
Cabin, ch. viii. Sam was in the HIGHEST
POSSIBLE FEATHER, and expressed his
exultation by all sorts of supernatural
howls and ejaculations.
1856. T. HUGHES, Tom Browns
School-Days, pt. II., ch. iv. Martin leads
the way IN HIGH FEATHER ; it is quite a
new sensation to him, getting companions,
and he finds it very pleasant, and means
to .show them all manner of proofs of his
science and skill.
TO FEATHER ONE'S NEST, verb.
phr. (colloquial). — To amass
money ; specifically to enrich
oneself by indirect pickings and
emoluments. [From birds col-
lecting feathers (see also sense 2)
to line their nests.]
1590. GREENE, Francesco's Fortunes,
in wks., viii., 138. She sees thou hast
FETHRED THY NEST, and hast crowns in
hy purse.
1662. PEPYS, Diary, j June. Mr.
Coventry had already FEATHERED HIS
NEST in selling of places.
1700. CONGREVE, Way of the World,
Act v., Sc. i. You have forgot this, have
you, now you have FEATHER'D YOUR
NEST.
1705. VANBRUGH, Confederacy, I.,
H., 25 (1734). If I don't FEATHER MY
NEST, and get a good husband, I deserve to
die.
18?8. G. ELIOT, Janet's Repentance,
ch. xiii. Dempster must have FEATHERED
HIS NEST pretty well ; he can afford to lose
a little business.
TO FEATHER AN OAR, verb.
phr. (aquatics). — In rowing, to
turn the blade horizontally, with
the upper edge pointing aft, as it
leaves the water, for the purpose
of lessening the resistance of the
air upon it.
d. 1814. DIBDIN, The Waterman. He
FEATHERED HIS OARS with such skill and
dexterity, Winning each heart and delight-
ng each eye.
Feather-bed.
380
Feed.
Whence HIGH or Low IN THE
FEATHER.
1819. T. MOORE, Tom Crib's Me-
morial to Congress, p. 5. The swells in
HIGH FEATHER.
1878. LANG, Ballad of the Boat-race.
They catch the stroke and they slog it
through, With Cambridge heavy and LOW
IN THE FEATHER, The standing sin of the
fair Light Blue.
TO SHOW THE WHITE
FEATHER, verb. phr. (colloquial).
— To turn cur ; to prove oneself
a coward. [Among game cocks
a cross-bred bird is known by a
white feather in the tail. Of old
the breed was strictly preserved
in England, for though birds of
all descriptions were reared in
the farm-yard, special care was
taken that game fowls did not
mix with them ; but this would
occasionally happen, and while
the game birds were only red
and black, white feathers would
naturally appear when there was
any cross. The slightest impurity
of strain was said to destroy the
bird's courage, and the half-breeds
were never trained for the pit.
It became an adage that any cock
would fight on his own dunghill,
but it must be one without a
white feather to fight in the pit.]
1842. Comic Almanack, p. 306.
Precluding the possibility of anyone, at
any time, SHOWING A WHITE FEATHER.
FEATHER-BED AND PILLOWS, subs,
phr. (venery). — A fat woman.
FEATHER-BED LANE, subs. phr.
(old).— A rough or stony lane.
FEATHER-BED SOLDIER, subs, phr.
(old colloquial). — A practised and
determined whoremonger.
FECK, verb (old). — To discover
the safe way of stealing or
swindling.
1848. DUNCOMBE, Sinks of London ,
p. 106, s.v.
FEED, subs, (colloquial). — A meal ;
SPREAD (q.V. ),or BLOW-OUT (q.V. ).
Fr., une lampie (from lamper=
to gulp down). [From the stable
usage = an allowance of pro-
vender. An analogue, however,
is found in Milton : ' For such
pleasures till that hour AT FEED
or fountain never had I found. ']
1830. BULWER LYTTON, Paul
Clifford, p. 22, ed. 1854. Like most
single men, being very much the gentle-
men so far as money was concerned, he
gave them plenty of FEEDS, and from time
to time a very agreeable hop.
1853. REV. E. BRADLEY('C. Bede1),
Verdant Green, pt. III., p. 90 (g.v.\
1861. A. TROLLOPE, Framley Par-
sonage, chap. iii. . . . It's deuced
shabby of him, not hunting here in his own
county. He escapes all the bore of going
to lectures, and giving FEEDS to the neigh-
bours ; that's why he treats us so.
1864. E. YATES, Broken to Harness,
ch. xxxiii. He had been accustomed to
describe Mr. Schroder as ' a good old
cock, sir ; a worthy old party ; kind-
hearted, and all that, and giving no end of
good FEEDS.
18(?). BRET HARTE, The Man of
no Account. When the 'Skyscraper*
arrived at San Francisco we had a grand
FEED.
1883. G. A. S[Ai.A], in Illustr. L.
News, 7 July, p. 3, col. i. To be able to
escape from a large public FEED is, indeed,
a sweet boon ; but there are some big
dinners at which attendance is a case of
' must.'
Verb (football).— I. To support;
back up.
2. (theatrical). — To prompt.
3. (university). — To teach or
CRAM (q. v. ) for an examination.
AT FEED, subs. phr. (collo-
quial).— At meat.
1890. National Observer, V., p. 138
col. i. Statesmen AT FEED.
d. 1674. MILTON. For such pleasures
till that hour AT FEED or fountain never
had I found.
Feeder.
Feet.
To BE OFF ONE'S FEED, verb,
phr. (common). — To have a dis-
taste for food. [From the stable.]
1836. M. SCOTT, Cringle's Log, ch.
ix. Shall I fill you a cup of coffee,
Obed? . . . Why, man, you are OFF
YOUR FEED.
1863. C. READE, Hard Cash, ii.,
218. No, doctor ; I'm OFF MY FEED for
once.
1881. JAS. PAYN, Grape from a
Thorn, ch. liii. I won't take a rasher
this morning, thank you ; nor yet any
pigeon pie. I'm rather OFF MY FEED.
TO FEED THE DUMMY Or THE
DUMB-GLUTTON (q.V.), verb. phr.
(venery). — To have connection.
For synonyms, see RIDE.
TO FEED THE FISHES, verb,
phr. (common). — To be sea-sick ;
also to be drowned.
1884. Home Tidings, 22 Nov., p.
398. Although I fed myself shortly before
arriving abreast of Eddystone, I FED THE
FISH shortly afterwards.
TO FEED THE PRESS, verb.
phr. (journalistic). — To send up
copy slip by slip.
FEEDER, subs, (common). — i. A
spoon ; among thieves a silver
spoon. TO NAB A FEEDER = tO
steal a spoon.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
s.v.
1821. D. HAGGART, Life, Glossary,
s.v.
2. (university). — A tutor ;
CRAMMER (q.V.) ', COACH (q.V.}.
— (See Dr. Blimber's Mr. Feeder
in Dombey and Son}.
1766. O. GOLDSMITH, Vicar of
Wakefield, chap. vii. (ed. 1827), p. 41.
Mr. Thornhill came with a couple of
friends, his chaplain and FEEDER.
1864. Glasgow Herald, 9 Nov.
[Review of Hotten's Slang Dictionary.]
FEEDER is given here as ' old cant ' for a
spoon.
FEEDING-BOTTLE, subs, (colloquial).
— The paps. For synonyms, see
DAIRY.
FEEL, verb (venery). — To take
liberties with a woman. For
synonyms, see FlRKYTOODLE.
FEEL A THING IN ONE'S BONES.
—See BONES.
FEELE, subs, (common). — A girl or
daughter. For synonyms in the
former sense, see TITTER. [Fr.,
fille ; It., faKa.] FEELES =
mother and daughter.
FEELER, subs, (colloquial) — i. A
device or remark designed to
bring out the opinions of others.
1841. Taifs Mag., Sept. ' Political
Register.' The Times is putting out
FEELERS on the corn-law question.
1889. Pall Mall Gazette, 29 Nov.,
p. 6, col. 3. The efforts made to purchase
the Halliwell-Phillips collection by private
subscription in Birmingham, have (says
the local Times) utterly failed. A FEELER
was sent out by the Free Libraries Com-
mittee.
2. (common). — The hand. For
synonyms, see BUNCH OF FIVES
and DADDLE.
1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude,
ch. iv., p. 259. I one day asked a man
... if the hard work of prison did not
spoil his hands for delicate manipulations.
' Oh, bless you, no ! ' he replied ; ... 'In
a week or two a man can bring his hooks
and FEELERS into full working trim again
and no mistake.'
FEET. MAKING FEET FOR CHILD-
REN'S STOCKINGS, verb. phr.
(old). — Begetting or breeding
children.
OFFICER OF FEET, subs. phr.
(old military). — An officer of in-
fantry.— GROSE [1785].
HOW'S YOUR POOR FEET ? phr.
(common). — A street catch
Feet- Casements.
382
Fen.
phrase in the early part of the
sixties. [For suggested deriva-
tion £/, quot. , 1890.] — See
STREET CRIES.
1863. All the Year Round, p. 180,
Col. I. 'HOW'S YOUR POOR FEET?' a
year ago cheated half the natives of
Cockaigne into the belief that they were
gifted with a special genius for repartee.
1890. Town and Country (Sydney),
ii Jan., p. 19, col. 4. Henry Irving's
revival of ' The Dead Heart ' has revived
a bit of slang. . . . When the play was
brought out originally, where one of the
characters says, ' My heart is dead, dead,
dead ! ' a voice from the gallery nearly
broke up the drama with ' How ARE
YOUR POOR FEET ? ' The phrase lived.
TO LIE FEET UPPERMOST,
verb. phr. (venery). — To ' take '
FEET-CASEMENTS, subs, (common).
— Boots or shoes. For syno-
nyms, see TROTTER-CASES.
FEEZE [also FEAZE, FEIZE, and
PH EEZE], verb (old). — i. To copu-
late. For synonyms, see R[DE.
1612. BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER,
The Coxcomb
FELLOW. — See OLD FELLOW.
FELLOW-COMMONER, subs, (uni-
versity).— An empty bottle. For
synonyms, see DEAD MAN.
1794. Gent. Mag., p 1084. One
[student at Cambridge] was a Harry Soph ;
another a fellow-commoner and senior
Soph, and occasionally jocularly called an
empty bottle, whilst e contra, a bottle
decanted was, from time to time, de-
nominated a FELLOW-COMMONER.
FELT, subs. (old). — A hat of felted
wool. For synonyms, see GOL-
GOTHA.
1609. DEKKER, GuVs Home-Booke,
chap. iv. For, in my opinion, ye braine
that cannot choose his FELT well (being
the head ornament) must needes poure
folly into all the rest of the members.
1614. J. COOKE, Green's Tu Quoque,
in Anc. Brit. Drama (1810), ii., 567.
Sir Lion. Aye, but son Bubble, where did
you two buy your FELTS ? Scat. FELTS !
by this light mine is a good beaver.
1823. W. T. MONCRIEFF, Tom and
Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 5. Don't nibble the
FELT, Jerry.
1841. THYNNE, Deb. between Pride
and Lowliness. A faire cloke on his backe,
and on his head a FELT.
2. (old).— To beat.
FEM. — See FAMBLE.
FEINT, subs. (old). — A pawnbroker.
For synonyms, see MY UNCLE.
1848. BUNCOMBE, Sinks of London,
s.v. ; 1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, or
Rogue's Lexicon, s.v.
FEKER, subs. (American thi-ves').
— Trade; profession; (/I, FECK.
1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, or
Rogue's Lexicon, s.v.
FELL A BIT ON, verb, phr, (tailors').
-To act craftily ; in an under-
hand manner.
FELL- AN D- DIDN'T, phr. (tailors'). —
Said of a man walking lame.
FEN, subs, (thieves'). — A prostitute
or procuress. — GROSE [1785].
Verb (schoolboys'). — (also FEND,
FAIN, FAIN ITS, etc.). A term of
warning, or of prohibition : as to
prevent any change in the existing
conditions of a game ; e.g., at
marbles, FEN-PLACiNGS = no al-
teration in position of marbles is
permissible; FEN-CLEARANCES =
removal of obstacles is forbidden.
[FEND = M.E. defend in sense of
'to forbid.'] FAIN, FAIN I, (with
which cf.t BAGS I) are corrup-
tions. At Winchester, FINGY
YOU or FINGY THAT are anala
Fence.
383
Fence.
gous ; but at Christ's Hospital
FiN = 'I won't have,' the reverse
of BAGS I.
ante. 1815. E. C. HARRINGTON, in
N. and (?., 5 S., vii., 98. Respecting the
word FEN ... I can testify to the use of
the term by schoolboys prior to the battle
of Waterloo . . . meaning that we pro-
tested against an exceptional action.
1852. DICKENS, Bleak House. ' I'm
fly,' says Jo. ' But FEN larks, you know.'
1877. Notes and Queries, 5 S., vii.,
178. A comical application, was, I re-
member well, ' FEN live lumber ' ! which,
if pronounced in time, would disable your
opponent from moving a bystander out of
the way of his shot.
FENCE, subs, (common). — i. A pur-
chaser or receiver of stolen goods.
— See verbal sense, and THIEVES.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Fenc-
ing master, or cully ; billy-fen-
cer ; angling cove ; stallsman ;
Ikey ; family-man ; father.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Une
crosse (thieves') ; un carreiir
(thieves') ; un attriqueur or une
attriqueuse (thieves') ; un franc de
maison (also = landlord of a
thieves' lodging-house or ' flash
ken ') ; un fourgue, fourgat, or
fourgasse (thieves') ; une nourrice
(a female fence ;= nurse); un
meunier ( = a miller ; porter au
moulin = to fence the swag) ;
un ogre (thieves').
GERMAN SYNONYMS. Pascher
or Verpascher (from paschlnisenen
= to peddle illegally) ; Sarser,
or Sasser (= a go - between) ;
Tschoirgoi (gypsy).
PORTUGUESE SYNONYM.
Entrujfto.
1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4th
ed.), p. 3. The FENCE and he [a thief],
are like the Devil and the Doctor, they
live by one another.
1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5th
ed.). FENCE (s.) . . . and in the Canting
Language, signifies one who receives and
disposes of stolen goods for the robbers.
1834. W. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood,
p. 171 (ed. 1864). The FENCE and he are
like the devil and the doctor x they live by
one another ; and, like traitors, 'tis best
to keep each other's counsel.
1837. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, p. 60
What are you up to ? Ill-treating the boys,
you . . . insatiable old FENCE.
1851. MAYHEW, London Labour and
the London Poor, vol. II., p. 106. In one
of my inquiries among the young thieves
and pickpockets in the low lodging-houses,
I heard frequent accounts of their selling
the metal goods they stole to FENCES, and
in one particular instance to the mistress
of a lodging house, who had conveniences
for the melting of pewter pots (called
' cats and kittens ' by the young thieves
according to the size of the vessels,).
1883. Daily Telegraph, 13 June, p.
7, col. 2. The criminal who, without the
aid of the professional FENCE, would
experience much difficulty in disposing of
his booty.
1885. Indoor Paupers, p. 73. The
articles bore the workhouse stamp, were
much worn, and would not have brought
the thief more than a couple of pence,
even supposing that he could find a FENCE,
who would venture to purchase.
2. A place where stolen goods
are purchased or received. [From
sense i.] Also a DOLLY-, LEAV-
ING-, or SWAG - SHOP — (q.v.) ;
FENCING-CRIB. Fr., un moulin.
1847. lllus. Lon. News, z May.
The keeper of the FENCE loves to set up
in business there [Clerkenwell] — low public-
houses abound, where thieves drink and
smoke — Jew receivers work the corners.
_ 1848. Punch, vol. xiv., p. 149. If
Citizen Blanc hold to his opinions of 1839,
we may expect no law of international
copyright from the Republic. Let M.
Galignani rejoice ; and let his Bibliotheque
in the Rue Vivienne still remain the great-
est literary FENCE in Europe.
Verb (old).— i. To purchase or
receive stolen goods.
1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all
p. 38 (H. Club's Repr., 1874). To FENCE
property, to sell any thing that is stolen.
Fence.
384
Ferguson.
1789. GEO. PARKER, Life's Painter,
p. 153. FENCED. Is disposing of any-
thing stolen for a quarter of the value.
1828. JON BEE, Picture of London,
p. 212. Even though he be a thief him-
self, or more harmfully engaged in FENCING
others' thefts.
1830. BULWER LYTTON, Paul
Clifford, p. 298, ed. 1854. Veil, ven ve
came out, you minds as on the voman had a
bundle in her arms, and you spake to her,
and she answered you roughly, and left us
all and vent straight home ; and ve vent
and FENCED the swag that wery night, and
afterwards napped the regulars.
1885. Chamb. Journal, zi Feb., p.
126. Moreover, he was strongly suspected
of FENCING — that is, purchasing stolen
property.
2. (common). — To spend
money.
1728. BAILEY, Diet., s.v.
TO BE, SIT, or RIDE ON THE
FENCE, verb. phr. (American). —
To be neutral ; to be ready to
join the winning side ; to wait ' to
see how the cat will jump. ' Also,
TO SIT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
HEDGE. [Cf., Latin prcevaricato
= straddling with distorted legs.]
— See JUMPING CAT.
1862. J. RUSSELL LOWELL, Biglow
Papers, II., p. 97. A kind o' hangin'
round an' SETTIN' ON THE FENCE, Till
Providence pinted how to jump an' save
the most expense.
1887. 'Political Slang,' in Comhill
Mag., June, p. 626. Those who SIT ON
THE FENCE — men with impartial minds,
who wait to see, as another pretty phrase
has it, ' how the cat will jump."
1888. _ Texas Sif tings, 7 July. While
Democratic papers will claim that Judge
Thurman is as hearty and well at seventy-
five as he was at fifty-five, journals ON THE
other side of the FENCE will represent him
to be a weak, feeble old man, much better
fitted for the invalid than the vice-
presidential chair.
Those who thus seek to run
with the hare and hunt with the
hounds are called FENCE-MEN.
The operation is FENCE-RIDING,
which sometimes qualifies for
RAIL-RIDING (.V.}.
1848. New York Herald, 14 Oct.
All the FENCE-MEN, all the doubters, all
the seekers after majorities, will now bustle
up, come out, and declare that General
Taylor is the most popular man in the
country, and that he was always their first
choice.
1868. Congressional Globe, 17 July,
This question is one of clear right and
wrong, and there can be no FENCE-RIDING,
when the rights of four millions of men
are at stake.
FENCER, subs, (tramps'), — A
hawker of small wares ; a tramp :
generally used in connection
with another word ; thus, DRIZ-
FENCER (q.v. ) = a pedlar of lace.
FENCING - CRIB or KEN, subs.
(thieves'). — A place where stolen
goods are purchased or secreted.
— See FENCE, subs., sense 2.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
s.v.
1839. W. H. AINSWORTH, Jack
Sheppard, p. 277, ed. 1840. ' It only leads
to the FENCING CRIB,' replied Wild.
4 There's no outlet that way.'
FENCING-CULLY, subs, (thieves'). —
A receiver of stolen goods. — See
FENCE.
1720. BAILEY, Diet., s.v.
FEN-NIGHTINGALE, subs, (com-
mon). — A frog. Also CAM-
BRIDGESHIRE, and CAPE NIGHT-
INGALE.
FERGUSON. You CAN'T LODGE
HERE, MR. FERGUSON, phr.
(street). — A street cry, popular
about 1845-50 ; used in derision or
denial. [Mr. J. H. Dixon, writing
to Mr. John Camden Hotten, under
date Nov. 6, 1864, says the phrase
originated thus : — A young Scots-
man, named Ferguson, visited
Epsom races, where he got very
drunk. His friends applied to
several hotel keepers to give him
Perm.
385
Fetch.
a bed, but in vain. There was no
place for Mr. Ferguson. He was
accordingly driven to London by
his companions, who kept calling
out, FERGUSON, YOU CAN'T LODGE
HERE. This was caught up by
the crowd, repeated, and in a
week was all over London, and
in a month all over the kingdom.
Mr. Dixon states he was introduced
to Mr. Ferguson, and that two of
his companions were intimate
friends.] — See STREET-CRIES.
PERM, suds. (Old Cant).— A hole;
with Spencer = a prison.
1632. DEKKER, English Villanies-
He [an angler for duds] carries a short
staff in his hand which is called a filch,
having in the nab or head of it a FERME
(that is to say a hole).
FERRET, subs, (thieves'). — i. A
barge-thief.
2. (old). — A dunning trades-
man.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
3. (common). — A pawnbroker.
For synonyms, see MY UNCLE.
1848. DUNCOMBE, Sinks of London,
FERRETING, subs, (venery). — The
act of connection.
FERRET OUT, verb. phr. (collo-
quial). — To be at pains to pene-
trate a mystery of any kind by
working underground.
FERRICADOUZER, subs, (pugilist).
— A knock - down blow ; a
thrashing. [From the Italian
fare cadere, to cause to fall +
dosso, back.] For synonyms, see
DIG.
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 244. Then there
wasn't no risk with Haynan . . no
fear of a FERRICADOUZER for the butcher
. . . What does it mean ? It means a
denskitch (a good thrashing).
FESS, verb (colloquial). — To con-
fess ; to own up. Fr. , norguer.
Adj. (school). — Proud.
F: STIVE, adj. (colloquial). — Loud ;
fast ; a kind of general utility
word. GAY AND FESTIVE cuss
(Artemus Ward) = a rollicking
companion.
FETCH, suds. (old). — i. A strata-
gem ; indirectly bringing some-
thing to pass.
1576. J. SKELTON, Merie Tales, xiii.
Yea sayde Skelton, if thou have such
pretie FETCHIS, you can dooe more then
thys ; and therefore if thou dooeste not
one thynge that I shel tell thee, I wil
folowe the lawe on thee. What is that
sayde the Myller. If that thou dooeste
not stele my cuppe of the table when I
am sette atte meate thou shalt not eskape
my handes.
1727. JOHN GAY, Beggars Opera,
Act II., Scene 2. Mac. Be pacified, my
dear Lucy ; this is all a FETCH of Polly's,
to make me desperate with you, in case I
get off. If I am hanged, she would fain
have the credit of being thought my
widow. Really, Polly, this is no time for
a dispute of this sort ; for whenever you
are talking of marriage, I am thinking of
hanging.
1780. MRS. C9WLEY, Belles Stratagem,
v. i. Why, my illness was only a FETCH,
man, to make you marry Letty.
1848. LOWELL, Fable for Critics, p.
19. But as Cicero says he won't say this
or that (a FETCH, I must say, most trans-
parent and flat), After saying whate'er he
could possibly think of.
2. (colloquial). — A success.
3. (old). — A likeness: e.g.,
the very FETCH of him = his very
image or SPIT (q.v.). Also an
apparition.
Verb (colloquial). — I. To
please ; to excite admiration ; to
arouse attention or interest.
25
Fetch.
386
Few.
1607. DEKKER, Westward Ho ! Act
ii., Sc. 2. Earl. Ha! Bird. O, I thought
I should FETCH you : you can ' ha ' at
that ; I'll make you hem anon.
1610. JONSON, Alchemist, II. This
will FETCH 'em, And make them haste
towards their gulling more. A man must
deal like a rough nurse, and fright Those
that are froward, to an appetite.
1727. GAY, Beggars Opera, Act I.,
Sc. 8. Polly. Give her another glass, Sir ;
my Mama drinks double the quantity
whenever she is out of order. This, you
see, FETCHES her.
1864. E. YATE-S, Broken to Harness,
ch. v., p. 48 (1873). But now he was cer-
tainly FETCHED, as his friends would call
it, and began to feel an interest in Miss
Townshend, which he had never felt for
any other person.
1867-70. C. G. LELAND, Hans.
Breitmanns Ballads. Dot FETCHED him.
He shtood all shpell-bound.
1879. JUSTIN MCCARTHY, Donna
Quixote, ch. xvii. She was quite clever
enough to take on any part that might best
commend her to the people she sought to
please ; and she thought she had hit upon
the best way to FETCH Gabrielle, as she
would herself have put it.
1882. BESANT, All Sorts and Cond.
of Men, ch. xxx. You shall be my
assistant : you shall play the piano and
come on dressed in a pink costoom, which
generally FETCHES at an entertainment.
1883. Referee, i April, p. 2, col. 4.
There were scenes, though, wherein she
fairly FETCHED her audience.
1884. S. L. CLEMENS (' M. Twain'),
Huckleberry Finn, xxi., 205. Hamlet's
soliloquy, you know ; the most celebrated
thing in Shakespeare. Ah, it's sublime,
sublime ! Always FETCHES the house.
1884. G. A. SALA, in ///. Lon. News,
17 May, p. 470, col. 3. The maritime con-
flagration FETCHED the audience, especially
the pit and gallery.
2.
do.
(colloquial). — To get ; to
[Some combinations are To FETCH THE
FARM = to get infirmary treatment and
diet ; To FETCH A STINGER (colloquial) =
to get in a heavy blow ; To FETCH A LAG-
GING (thieves') = to serve one's term ; To
FETCH A HOWL = tOCry; TO FETCH A CRACK
=to strike ; To FETCH A CIRCUMBENDIBUS
= to make a detour ; To FETCH THE
BREWER = to get drunk.]
To FETCH AWAY, verb. phr.
(colloquial). — To part; e.g., 'a
fool and his money are soon
FETCHED AWAY.'
To FETCH UP, verb. phr.
(common). — i. To stop j to run
against.
2. (popular). — to startle.
3. (American). — To come to
light.
4. (common). — To recruit
one's strength after illness.
FETCHING,///, adj. (colloquial).—
Attractive (as of women) ; pleas-
ing (as of a dress or bonnet).
c. 1882. Broadside Ballad. 'You
May Lay Odds on That.' Some most
FETCHING dresses the ladies now wear,
You may lay odds on that.
1889. Ally Sloped s Half Holiday,
17 August, p. 262, col. 2. How can they
show off a pretty figure and a FETCHING
bathing costume if they go in further than
knee deep ?
1889. Birdo' Freedom, 7 Aug., p. 3.
Quite delighted at being at last understood
and appreciated by one of the FETCHING
sex, Stewart made the running so fast that
I couldn't see the way he went.
FETTLE. IN GOOD or IN PROPER
FETTLE, adv. phr. (colloquial).
— Drunk. [From provincial
English FETTLE = a state of
fitness.]
FEW. A FEW, or JUST A FEW,
adv. phr. (colloquial). — Originally
(cf., quot., 1778) a little. Hence,
by implication, on the lucus a
non hicendo principle, consider-
ably ; e.g., 'Were you alarmed ? '
* No, but I was astonished A
FEW!' i.e., 'I was greatly sur-
prised. Of., RATHER — a good deal.
Fib.
387
Fibbing.
1778. D'ARBLAY, Diary, etc., 6 July,
vol. I., ch. i., p. 15 (1876). So I trembled A
FEW, for I thought, ten to one but he'd
say : ' He ? — not he — I promise you ! '
1852. DICKENS, Bleak House, ch.
xx., p. 173. I appeal to our mutual
friend, Smallweed, whether he has or has
not heard me remark, that I can't make
him _ out. Mr. Smallweed bears the
concise testimony, A FEW.
FIB, verb (Old Cant). — i. To beat ;
specifically (pugilism) to get in a
quick succession of blows, as when
you get your man round the neck
(i.e., into chancery) and pommel
his ribs or face.
1665. R. HEAD, English Rogue, pt.
I., ch. v., p. 49 (1874). FIBI to beat.
1724. E. COLES, Eng. Diet. FIB,
to beat.
1811. SOUTHEY, Letters (ii., 236).
I have been taking part in the controversy
about ' Bell and the Dragon,' as you will
see in the Quarterly, where I have FIBBED
the Edinburgh (as the fancy say) most com-
pletely.
1853. THACKERAY, Men's Wives-'
Frank Berry, ch. i. For heaven's sake»
my boy, FIB with your right, and mind his
left hand!
1853. REV. E. BRADLEY ('C.Bede').
Verdant Green, pt. I., p. 106. His whole
person put in chancery, stung, bruised,
FIBBED, propped .... and otherwise ill-
treated.
1865. G. F. BERKELEY, My Life*
etc., 1., 311. As there was no room to hit
out, in the phraseology of the ring, I FIBBED
at half a dozen waistcoats and faces with all
my might and main.
2. (colloquial and recognised).
—To lie.
1694. CONGREVE, Double Dealer,
Activ., Sc. iii. You FIB, you baggage, you
do understand, and you shall understand.
1712. ARBUTHNOT, Hist, of John
Bull, pt. IV., ch. iv. Whereby one may
know when you FIB, and when you speak
truth.
1755. JOHNSON, Diet, of Eng. Lang.,
s.v. FIB, a cant word amongst children.
1863. ALEX. SMITH, Dreamthorp, p.
ii. Could I have FIBBED in these days;
Could I have betrayed a comrade?
Also, used substantively = (i) a
lie ; (2) a liar ; see quot., 1862.
1738. SWIFT, Polite Convers., Dial.
2. If I had said so I should have told a
FIB.
1750. FIELDING, Tom Jones, bk.
III., ch. iv. Those who will tell one FIB
will hardly stick at another.
1773. GOLDSMITH, She Stoops to Con-
fuer, Act iii. Ask me no questions, and
'11 tell you no FIBS.
1861. H. KINGSLEY, Ravenshoe,
chap. 58. ' Oh ! you dreadful FIB,' said
Flora.
1883. HAWLEY SMART, Hard Lines,
ch. xix. Mrs. Charrington saw no harm
.... in the utterance of a pretty FIB ; but
she refused to place a delibeiate lie upon
paper.
FIBBER, subs, (colloquial). — A liar.
[From FIB.]
1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (sth ed.).
FIBBER (s.) a liar, one who speaks falsely,
etc.
1785. WOLCOT, Lyric Odes, No. 6,
in wks. (1809), i., 67. Your royal grand-
sire (trust me, I'm no FIBBER) Was vastly
fond of Colley Cibber.
1882. JAS. PAYN, For Cash Only,
ch. xxvi. For one's lover to be a FIBBER
is bad enough, but to be a forger
FIBBERY, subs, (colloquial). — Lying.
1857. DUCANGE ANGLICUS, Vulg.
Tongue. 'The Leary Man.' And if you
come to FIBBERY You must mug one or
two.
FIBBING, subs, (pugilist). — i. Pum-
melling an opponent's head while
' in chancery' ; a drubbing. Fr.,
bordee de coups de poings. [From
FIB (?.».).]
1819. MOORE, Tom Crib's Mem. to
Cong., p. 2. And if the Fine Arts Of
FIBBING and loving be dear to your hearts.
1834. W. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood,
p. 268 (ed. 1864). Resolved his FIBBING
not to mind.
1837. BAR HAM, /. L. (The Ghost)-
Whom sometimes there would come on a
sort of fear his Spouse might knock his
head off, Demolish half his teeth, or drive
a rib in, She -shone so much in 'facers'
and in FIBBING.
Fibbing- Gloak .
Fiddle.
2. (colloquial). — Lying.
FIBBING-GLOAK, subs. (Old Cant).
— A pugilist. For synonyms, see
HITTITE. [From FIB, sense i +
GLOAK, a man.]
FIBBING-MATCH, subs, (thieves'). —
A prize-fight. — See FIB, sense I.
FIBSTER, subs, (colloquial). — A
liar. [From FIB, verb, sense 2.]
1861. H. KINGSLEY, Ravenshoe, ch.
xx. You wicked old FIBSTER ! Didn't
you hesitate, stammer, and blush, when
you said that?
FIDDLE, subs, (common). — i. A
sharper ; sometimes OLD FIDDLE.
For synonyms, see ROOK.
2. (American). —A swindle.
For synonyms, see SELL.
3. (thieves').— A whip.
4. (thieves'). — See quot.
1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude,
ch. i., p. 44. The taskmaster warder
came in, bringing with him the FIDDLE on
which I was to play a tune called ' Four
pounds of oakum a day.' It consisted of
nothing but a piece of rope and a long
crooked nail.
5. (Stock Exchange). — One-
sixteenth part of a pound.
1887. ATKIN, House Scraps. Done
at a FIDDLE.
6. (old). — A watchman's or
policeman's rattle.
1832. W. T. MONCRIEFF, Tom and
Jerry, Act II., Sc. 2. There's one ! go it,
Jerry ! — Come, Green. Log. Aye, come,
Jerry, there's the Charlies' FIDDLES
going. Jerry. Charlies' FIDDLES ?— I'm
not fly, Doctor. Log. Rattles, Jerry,
rattles ! you're fly now, I see. Come
along, Tom ! Go it, Jerry !
1848. DUNCOMBE, Sinks of London,
s.v.
7. (colloquial). — A sixpence;
also a fiddler; C/., FIDDLER'S
MONEY.
8. (venery). — The female p^t-
dendiim. For synonyms, see
MONOSYLLABLE.
Verb (colloquial). — I. To trifle,
especially with the hands.
166X PEPYS, Diary, 13 July. Where
all the ladies walked, talking and
FIDDLING with their hats and feathers, and
changing and trying one another's by one
another's heads, and laughing.
1738. SWIFT, Polite Convers., Dial.
He took a pipe in his hand, and
'•" ' 'llhebrc
FIDDLED with it till
roke it.
1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5th
ed.). FIDDLE (v.) . . . also to spend a
person's time about matters of small or no
importance.
1883. HAWLEY SMART, Hard Lines,
ch. iii. That second charger of Mr.
Harperley's is smart, but they've had him
FIDDLING about so long in the school, he's
most likely forgot how to gallop.
2. (thieves'). — To cheat ; spe-
cifically, to gamble.
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. III., p. 140. She is
supposed to bring in all the money she has
taken, but that we don't know, and we are
generally FIDDLED most tremendous.
3. (common). — To earn a live-
lihood by doing small jobs on the
street. — See FIDDLING.
4. (American). — To intrigue.
5. (common). — To take liber-
ties with a woman ; for synonyms,
see FIRKYTOODLE.
6. (pugilistic). — To strike.
SCOTCH-FIDDLE, subs, (com-
mon).—The itch.
TO HANG UP THE FIDDLE.—
To abandon an undertaking.
TO PLAY FIRST or SECOND
FIDDLE, verb. phr. (colloquial)
— To take a leading or a subordi-
nate part. Among tailors SECOND
FIDDLE = an unpleasant task
Fiddle-bow.
Fiddler.
1843. DICKENS, Martin Chuzzleiuit,
ch. xii., p. 122. To say that Tom had no
idea of PLAYING FIRST FIDDLE in any
social orchestra but was always quite
satisfied to be set down for the hundred
and fiftieth violin in the band, or there-
abouts, is to express his modesty in very
inadequate terms.
1847. THACKERAY, Letter, 2 Jan., to
W. E. Ayton in Memoirs. If my friend
will shout, Titmarsh for ever, hurrah for
etc., etc , I may go up with a run to a
pretty fair place in my trade, and be
allowed to appear before the public as
among the FIRST FIDDLES.
1886. JAS. PAYN, Grape from a
Thorn, ch. xi. She had inherited from
her mother an extreme objection to
PLAYING, in any orchestra whatsoever, the
SECOND FIDDLE.
FIT AS A FIDDLE, phr. (col-
loquial).— In good form or con-
dition.
1886. JAS. PAYN, Heir of the Ages
(Ry. ed. 1888), p. 63.
Intj. — See FIDDLE-DE-DEE.
FIDDLE-BOW, subs, (venery). — The
penis. For synonyms, see CREAM-
STICK.
FIDDLE-FACED, adj. (colloquial). —
Wizened, also substantively.
1885. W. WESTALL, Larry Lohen-
grin, ch. v. Tell me how far, in your
opinion, I answer to this flattering de-
scription of yours — white-chokered, strait-
laced, and FIDDLE-FACED?
FIDDLE-FADDLE, subs, (colloquial).
—Twaddling ; trifling ; ' little
nothings'; ROT (q.v.}. Fr., om,
les landers !
1593. G. HARVEY, Pierces Super, in
wks. II., 98. Or who of Judgment, will
not cry ? away with these paultringe FIDLE-
FADLES.
1657. Political Ballads (ed. Wilkins,
1860), vol. I., p. 139. After much FIDDLE-
FADDLE The egg proved addle.
1712. Spectator, No. 299. Their
mother tells them .... that her mother
danced in a ball at Court with the Duke of
Monmouth ; with abundance of FIDDLE-
FADDLE of the same nature.
1876. C. H. WALL, trans. Moliire,
vol, i., p. 157. I see nothing about here
but white of eggs, milk of roses, and a
thousand FIDDLE-FADDLES that I know
nothing about.
Adj. Trifling ; fussing ; fluff-
ing.'
1712. ARBUTHNOT, Hist, of John Bull^
pt. III., ch. viii. She was a troublesome,
FIDDLE-FADDLE old woman, and so cere-
monious that there was no bearing of her.
b. 1811, d. 1863. THACKERAY, Char-
acter Sketches (Fashionable Authoress).
She interlards her works with fearful quo-
tations from the French, FIDDLE-FADDLE
extracts from Italian operas, German
phrases, fiercely mutilated, and a scrap
or two of bad Spanish.
Verb. To toy; to trifle; to
talk nonsense ; to gossip ; to
make 'much cry and little wool.'
1761. DR. HAWKSWORTH, Edgar
and Emmeline, I., ii. Here have I had
a young, tempting girl FIDDLE-FADDLING
about me these two hours to dress me.
1873. Miss BROUGHTON, Nancy, ch.
xxxvii. I am idly FIDDLE-FADDLING with
a piece of work.
Also FIDDLE -FADDLER, one
inclined to FIDDLE-FADDLES.
FIDDLE-HEAD, subs, (nautical). — A
plain prow as distinguished from
a figure-head. Hence FIDDLE-
HEADED = plain ; ugly.
1833. MARRYAT, Peter Simple,
III., i., 316 (ed. 1846). She has a d— y-d
pretty run ; but I hope Captain O'Brien
will take off her FIDDLE-HEAD and get one
carved : I never knew a vessel do much
with a FIDDLE-HEAD.
1854. WHYTE MELVILLE, General
Bounce, ch. v. ' Zounds ! you've broke it,
you FIDDLE-HEADED brute ! ' exclaimed a
choleric voice . . . , startling the ladies
most unceremoniously, and preparing them
for the spectacle of a sturdy black cob
trotting rebelliously down the farm-roadj
FIDDLER, subs, (old).— i. A trifler ;
a careless, negligent, or dilatory
person. [From FIDDLE, to trifle.]
1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (sth
ed.) s.v. -
Fiddlers' -Fare.
39°
Fiddling.
2. (common). — A sharper; a
cheat ; also FIDDLE (q.v.\
3. (pugilistic). — A prize-fighter;
one who depends more on activity
than upon strength or ' stay.'
4. (common). — A sixpence.
[From the old custom of each
couple at a dance paying the
fiddler a sixpence. Cf., FIDDLER'S
MONEY.]
1885. Household Words, 20 June, p.
155. Why a sixpence should be a ' mag-
pie ' it would be hard to say. A more
easily explained name ... is a FIDDLER.
This probably from the old custom of each
couple at a dance paying the fiddler
sixpence, and, moreover 'fiddler's money'
is generally small money.
5. (common). — A farthing.
For synonyms, see FADGE.
1885. Household Words, 20 June, p.
155. FIDDLER. This same word also does
duty as an equivalent for a farthing.
FIDDLERS' - FARE, subs. (old). —
Meat, drink, and money — Grose,
1785.
FIDDLERS'-GREEN, subs, (nautical).
— A sailor's elysium (situate on
the hither and cooler side of hell)
of wine, women, and song.
1837. MARRYAT, Snarley-Yow,ch. ix.
At FIDDLER'S GREEN, where seamen true,
When here they've done their duty, The
bowl of grog shall still renew, And pledge
to love and beauty.
1842. LOVER, Handy A «o^,ch.xii 'He
would as soon go into Squire Egan's house
as go to FIDDLER'S GREEN.' ' Faith, then,
there's worse places thanFiDDLER's GREEN,'
said Andy, ' as some people may find
out one o' these days.'
1884. HENLEY and STEVENSON, Ad-
miral Guinea, iv., 4. Jack Gaunt, . . .
it's thanks to you I've got my papers, and
this time I'm shipped for FIDDLER'S GREEN .
FlDDLERS'-MONEY, Subs. (old). —
Sixpences. [From the custom
at country merry-makings of each
couple paying the fiddler six-
pence.] Also generically, small
silver.
FIDDLESTICK! intj. (colloquial). —
Nonsense ; sometimes FIDDLE-
STICK'S END and FIDDLE-DE-DEE.
1600. NASHE, Summer's Last Will,
in wks. (Grosart) VI., 130. A FIDDLE-
STICKE ! ne're tell me I am full of words.
1701. FARQUHAR, Sir Harry Wildair,
Act IV., Sc. ii. Golden pleasures ! Golden
FIDDLESTICKS— What d'ye tell me of your
canting stuff?
1834. SOUTHEY, The Doctor, ch.
clxxxix. At such an assertion he would
have exclaimed, a FIDDLESTICK ! Why
and how that word has become an in-
terjection of contempt I must leave those
to explain who can.
Subs. — I. See quot.
1821. D. HAGGART, Life, Glossary,
p. 172. FIDDLESTICK, a spring saw.
2. (venery). — The penis. For
synonyms, see CREAMSTICK.
3. (old). — A sword.
1595. SHAKSPEARE, Romeo and
Juliet, iii., i. Here's my'riDDLESTiCK :
here's that shall make you dance.
FIDDLING, subs, (streets'). — i. A
livelihood got on the streets,
holding horses, carrying parcels,
etc.
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 211, A lad
that had been lucky FIDDLING (holding
horses, or picking up money anyhow).
2. See quot. and cf., quot., subs.,
sense i.
1850. Lloyd's Weekly, 3 Feb. ' Low
Lodging Houses of London.' I live on zs.
a week from thieving, because I under-
stand FIDDLING — that means, buying a
thing for a mere trifle, and selling it for
double, or for more, if you're not taken in
yourself.
3. (colloquial).— Idling; trifl-
ng.
Fid- Fad.
39i
Fifer.
4. (gamesters'). — Gambling.
Adj. (colloquial). — Trifling ;
trivial ; fussing with nothing.
b. 1667, d. 1745. SWIFT [quoted in
' Annandale ']. Good cooks cannot abide
what they call FIDDLING work.
1802. C. K. SHARPE, in Correspon-
dence (1888), i., 152. He is a mighty neat,
pretty little, FIDDLING fellow, and ex-
ceedingly finely bred.
1880. HAWLEY SMART. Social
Sinners, ch. xiii. I will look in at that
time, and trust to find you have settled all
these FIDDLING preliminaries.
FID- FAD, subs, (old).— A contracted
form of FIDDLE-FADDLE (q.V.) ;
also applied to persons.
1754. The World, No. 95. The
youngest, who thinks in her heart that her
sister is no better than a slattern, runs
into the contrary extreme, and is, in every-
thing she does, an absolute FIDFAD.
1874. E. L. LINTON, Patricia. Kern-
ball, ch. xvi. The FIDFADS, called im-
provements, which were not wanted and
seldom properly managed.
FIDLAM-BENS or COVES, subs.
(thieves'). — Thieves who steal
anything they can lay hands on.
Also ST. PETER'S SONS.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
FIE-FOR-SHAME, subs. phr. (school-
girls').— The female pudendiim.
For synonyms, see MONOSYL-
LABLE.
FIELD. To CHOP THE FIELD, verb,
phr. (racing). — To win easily
[ FIELD = the horses taking part
in a race.]
FIELDER, subs, (betting).— A backer
of the field [i.e., the RUCK (q.v.).
as against the favorite]. At
cricket, a player in the field as
against the team at the wickets.
1853. WH. MELVILLE, Digby (./'/•«;/</,
ch. vi. I accommodate a vociferous
FIELDER with 6 to 4 in hundreds as my
concluding stake.
1883. Graphic, u August, p. 138,
col. 2. As a batter, bowler, and FIELDER
combined ... he has yet no equal.
FIELD-LANE DUCK, subs. phr. (com-
mon). — A baked sheep's head.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
1848. DUNCOMBE, Sinks of London^
FIENT, intj. phr. (Scots colloquial).
— An expression of negation : e.g. ,
FIENT a hair care I = Devil a hair
I care.
FIERI FACIAS. To HAVE BEEN
SERVED WITH A WRIT OF FIERI
FACIAS, verb. phr. (legal).— Said
of a red-nosed man. [A play
upon words.]
1594. NASHE, Unf. Traveller, in
wks. v., 44. Should 1 tell you how many
pursenants with red noses, and sargeants
with precious faces, shrunke away in this
sweat, you would not belieue me .... a
pursenant or a sargeantat this present, with
the verie reflexe of his FIRIE FACIAS, was
able to spoile a man a farre of.
1608. Penniles Parl, in Harl. Misc.
(ed. Park), I., 182. They that drink too
much Spanish sack, shall, about July, be
served with a FIERY FACES.
1663. DRYDEN, Wild Gallant, Act
ii. Vour. You are very smart upon one
another, gentlemen. Fail. This is no-
thing between us ; I was to tell him of his
title, FIERY FACIAS \ and his setting dog,
that runs into ale-houses before him.
FIERY LOT, subs, phr. (common). —
FAST (q.v.); rollicking; applied
to a HOT MEMBER (q.V.).
FIERY SNORTER, subs. phr. (com-
mon).— A red nose.
FIFER, subs, (tailors'), — I. A waist-
coat 'hand.'
Fi-fi.
392
Fig.
2. (Scots' colloquial). — A
native of the KINGDOM (^.z>.)»
i.e., the county of Fife.
FI-FI or FIE-FIE, adj. (common). —
Indecent; 'blue' or 'smutty.'
[From FIE = an exclamation signi-
fying contempt, impatience, or
disapproval. ] A Thackerayean
term.
1861. A. TROLLOPE, Framley
Parsonage, ch. vi. And then Mrs.
Proud ie began her story about Mr. Slope,
or rather recommenced it. She was very
fond of talking about this gentleman who
had once been her pet chaplain, but was
now her bitterest foe ; and, in telling the
story, she had sometimes to whisper to
Miss Dunstable, for there were one or two
FIE-FIE little anecdotes about a married
lady, not altogether fit for young Mr.
Robart's ears.
1874. M. COLLINS, Frances, ch.
xviii. Flood was a gay bachelor, with a
few FIE-FIE stories floating through club
atmosphere about him.
FIFTEENER, subs, (bibliographical).
— A book printed in the I5th
century.
1890. ' Grangerising ' in Comhill
Mag., Feb., p. 139. Some of them torn
from FIFTEENERS, or ' incurables,' books
of the fathers of printing.
FIFTH RIB. To HIT, DIG, or POKE
ONE UNDER THE FIFTH RIB,
verb.phr. (common). — To deliver
a heavy blow ; to dumbfound.
e 1890. Globe, 26 Feb., p. i, col. 5. It
strikes the man who has been dallying with
strange tailors . . . UNDER THE FIFTH
RIB.
FIG, subs, (colloquial). — i. A
gesture of contempt made by
thrusting forth the thumb
between the fore and middle
fingers : whence the expression
' I do not care, or would not give,
a fig for you.' Fr., je ne
voudrais pas en donner un ferret
Jaiguillette. Cf.t CARE, and for
other similes of worthlessness, see
CURSE, STRAW, RUSH, CHIP,
CENT, DAM, etc. [Italian :
When the Milanese revolted
against the Emperor Frederick
Barbarossa, they set his Empress
hind before upon a mule, and thus
expelled her. Frederick after-
wards besieged and took the city,
and compelled all his prisoners, on
pain of death, to extract with his
(or her) teeth a fig from the funda-
ment of a mule and, the thing
being done, to say in announce-
ment, ' ecco la fica* Thus far la
fica became an universal mode of
derision. Fr., faire la figue ;
Ger., die Feigen weisen ; It., far
le fiche ; Dutch, De vyghe setten.
1599. SHAKSPEARE, Henry V. , iii. , 6.
Pistol. Die and be damned and FICO for
thy friendship. Fluellen. It is well. Pistol.
The FIG of Spain.
1610. BEN JONSON, The Alchemist,
i i. _ Subtle. What to do? Lick FIGS out
of mine arse.
1821. PIERCE EGAN, Tom and Jerry
[ed. 1890], p. 106. A FIG for each bum.
1861. T. HUGHES, Tom Brown at
Oxford, ch. yi. A FIG for Poll Ady and
fat Sukey Wimble ; I now could jump over
the steeple so nimble ; With joy I be ready
to cry.
1882. Punch, vol. LXXXII., p. 185,
col. 2 (y.v.).
2. (common). — Dress. [From
FIG, verb, sense = that which
shows off a man or woman, as a
fig of ginger shows off a horse.
Cf., quot., 1819, in FIG UP.] IN
FULL FIG = in full dress.
1861. T. HUGHES, Tom Brawn at
Oxford, ch. i. He waits on me in hall,
where we go IN FULL FIG of cap and gown
at five, and get very good dinner.*, and
cheap enough.
1873. Casselfs Magazine, Jan., p.
246, col. 2. 'London Cured.' They are
rather prone to dress flashily, and wear
when ix FULL FIG no end of jewellery.
Pigato.
593 Fighting Fifth.
3. (venery). — The female
pudendum. For synonyms, see
MONOSYLLABLE.
Verb (stable). — To ginger a
horse. [For origin, see subs.
sense.]
To FIG OUT, verb. phr. (collo-
quial).— To show off; to dress ;
to don one's WAR PAINT (y.v.).
[From the verb.]
1825. The English Spy, vol. i, p. 177.
Eglantine (to the ostler). Well, Dick,
what sort of a stud, hey? Come, FIG OUT
two lively ones.
1884. W. C. RUSSELL, Jack's Court-
ship, ch. vi. He began to inveigh against
the waiter's costume, as he styled the
dress I had FIGGED myself OUT in.
To FIG UP, verb. phr. (collo-
quial.— To restore ; to reanimate
(as a gingered horse).
1819. T. MOORE, Tom Crib's Me-
morial, p. 24. In vain did they try to FIG
UP the old lad, 'T was like using persuaders
upon a dead prad.
FIGARO, subs, (common). — A barber.
[From Le Nozze di Figaro.]
1886. Globe, 18 March, p. 3, col. 2.
[Referring to recent order of French War
Minister permitting soldiers to wear their
beards.J There is wailing and weeping
among a certain section of that army, the
FIGAROS, which has been despoiled at one fell
swoop.
FIGDEAN, verb (old). — To kill.
For synonyms, see COOK ONE'S
GOOSE.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
s.v.
1859. MATSELL . Vocabulmn, or
Rogues Lexicon, s.v.
FIGGED. — See JIGGED.
FIGGER or FIGURE. — See FAGGER.
FIGGING- or FAGGING-LAY, subs,
phr. (old). — Pocket-picking: cf.,
FAGGER.
FiGHT, subs, (common). — A party ;
£..?., TEA FIGHT, WEDDING-
FIGHT, etc. Cf.j SCRAMBLE, and
WORRY : also Row (y.v.).
TO FIGHT Or PLAY COCUM.
— See COCUM.
TO FIGHT or BUCK THE TIGER.
— See BUCK and quots., infra.
1 870. London Figaro, 20 July. The
other day a gentleman of San Francisco,
hitherto only noted for deeds of daring in
FIGHTING THE TIGER, was seated asleep
in the smoking-car of the evening train
from Sacramento on the Vallejo route.
1886. Daily Telegraph, 18 Oct.,
p. 5, col. 3. If they subsequently FIGHT
THE TIGER at the games of faro or roulette.
ONE THAT CAN FIGHT HIS
WEIGHT IN WILD CATS, subs.
phr. (American). — A brilliant
desperado.
1876. BESANT AND RICE, Golden
Butterfly, John Halkett, as I learned
afterwards, could FIGHT HIS WEIGHT
IN WILD CATS.
FIGHTING-COVE, subs. phr.
(tramps'). -A professional pugilist :
specifically one who ' boxes ' for
a livelihood at fairs, race meet-
ings, etc.
1880. GREENWOOD, Odd People in
Odd Places, p. 56. You see them two
there, sitting on t'other end of the table
and eating fried fish and bread. That's
their mittens they've got tied up in that
hankercher. They're FIGHTING COVES.
FIGHTING FIFTH, subs. phr.
(military)— The Fifth Foot. [So
distinguished in the Peninsular.]
Other nicknames were THE SHI-
NERS (in 1764 from its clean and
smart appearance) ; THE OLD
BOLD FIFTH (also Peninsular) ;
and LORD WELLINGTON'S BODY
GUARD (it was at head-quarters
in 1811). e/"., FIGHTING NINTH.
Fighting Ninth. 3<H Figure-maker.
1871. Chambers Journal, 23 Dec.,
p. 802, col. 2. THE FIGHTING FIFTH was
distinguished by its men wearing a white
plume in the cap, when the similar orna-
ment of the other regiments was a red and
white tuft.
1890. Standard, 25 April, p. 3, col.
4, 'St. George's Day.' With the excep-
tion of the annual observances by the
Northumberland Fusiliers, better known
as the FIGHTING FIFTH, and a concert at
the Crystal Palace, there does not seem to
have been the smallest notice taken of
what was, not a hundred years ago, a re-
cognised popular festival throughput the
length and breadth of once merrie Eng-
land.
FIGHTING NINTH, subs. phr.
(military). — The Ninth Foot.
Also HOLY BOYS (Peninsular),
from its selling its Bibles for
drink.] Cf., FIGHTING FIFTH.
FIGHTING TIGHT, adv. phr. (Ameri-
can).— Drunk and quarrelsome.
For synonyms, see DRINKS and
SCREWED.
FIG-LEAF, subs, (common). — An
apron. In fencing, the padded
shield worn over the lower ab-
domen and right thigh. Fr., une
petite bannette. Cf. , BELLY-CHEAT
and FLAG.
FIGS (also FIGGINS), subs, (collo-
quial).— A grocer.
FIGURE, subs, (colloquial). — i.
Appearance ; conduct ; e.g. , TO
CUT A GOOD or BAD FIGURE, A
MEAN FIGURE, SORRY FIGURE,
etc.
1712. Spectator, No. 479. Men can-
not, indeed, make a sillier FIGURE, than in
repeating such pleasures and pains to the
rest of the world.
1854. WHYTE MELVILLE, General
Bounce, ch. xvii. Peradventure our youth
is fast, and aspires to be a man of FIGURE.
2. (colloquial). — Price; value;
amount.
d. 1863. THACKERAY [quoted in Annan-
dale]. Accommodating the youngster, who
had just entered the regiment, with a glan-
dered charger at an uncommonly stiff
FIGURE,
1864. London Society, Oct., p. 480.
She had saved . . . about four hundred a
year out of the wreck . . . and so, on the
whole, did not do badly in life. Happiness
has been found at even a lower ' FIGURE.'
1883. SALA, Living London, p. 184.
The ' FIGURE ' to be paid to Madame Ade-
lina Patti for her forthcoming season.
1886. Cornhill Ma?., March, p. 304.
' About what is their FIGURE?' asked Mr.
Corder. ' Slim and graceful,' answered the
lady. ' I don't mean that,' said the ex-
smoked-mother-of-pearl-button manufac-
turer ; ' I mean, what is each of them worth
in money ? '
3. (colloquial). — Paps and pos-
teriors ; said only of women. No
FIGURE = wanting in both particu-
lars.
Verb (billiards'). — To single
out ; to SPOT (q.v.}.
[FIGURE, like FETCH, comes in for a
good deal of hard work in America. It is
colloquially equivalent to ' count upon ' ;
as, ' you may FIGURE on getting a reply by
return mail ' ; also = to strive for. To
FIGURE ON [A THING] = to think it over ;
TO FIGURE ouT=to estimate ; TO FIGURE
UP=to add up ; TO CUT A FIGURE, sec
CUT ; TO GO THE WHOLE FIGURE = tO be
thorough ; TO GO THE BIG FIGURE = to
launch out; TO MISS A FiGURE=to make
a mistake.]
FIGURE-DANCER, subs, (thieves'). —
A manipulator of the face value
of banknotes, cheques, and paper
security generally.— GROSE [1785]
FIGURE-FANCIER, stibs. (venery). —
An amateur of large-made women.
FIGURE-HEAD, subs, (nautical). —
The face. For synonyms, see
DIAL.
FIGURE-MAKER, subs, (venery). —
A wencher. [In allusion to the
enlarged ' figures ' of pregnant
women.] For synonyms, see
MOL ROWER.
Figure,
395
Filchman.
FIGURE (or NUMBER) S\\,subs.p/u\
(thieves'). — A lock of hair brought
down from the forehead, greased,
twisted spirally, and plastered on
the face. For synonyms, see
AGGERAWATOR.
1851. H. MAYHHW, Lon. Lab. and
Lon. Poor, v. I., p. 36. As for the hair,
they [coster-lads] say it ought to be long
in front, and done in FIGURE-SIX curls or
twisted back to • the ear, ' Newgate-
knocker style.'
FILBERT. CRACKED IN THE FIL-
BERT, adv. phr. (common). —
Crazy ; a variant of WRONG IN THE
NUT (q.V.) or UPPER STOREY.
For synonyms, see APARTMENTS
TO LET and TILE LOOSE.
FILCH, verb (Old Cant: now
recognised). — i. To steal : speci-
fically to pilfer in small ways
[DEKKER : from the ' filches ' or
hooks used by thieves in steal-
ing out of open windows ;
SKEAT : for filk from O.E. fele,
Icel. fela, to steal, like talk and
tell, stalk (verb] and steal where k
is a formative element. — See Phil.
Soc. Trans., 1865, p. 188.] For
synonyms, see PRIG. FILCH.
)roperly FILCHMAN (<?.v.), = a
looked staff; ON THE FILCH or
FILCHING = stealing.
1567. HARMAN, Caveat (1814), p.
66. To FYLCHE, to robbe.
1580. TUSSER, Husbandrie, ch. 63,
st. 13, p. 143 (E. D. S.). The champion
robbeth by night, And prowteth and
FILCHETH by day.
1611. MIDDLETON, Roaring Girl,
Act iv., Sc. i. What she leaves Thou
shalt come closely in and FII.CH away.
1729. SWIFT, Intelligencer, No. 4,
p. 35 (and ed.)- The servants having all
that time to themselves to intrigue, to
junket, to FILCH and steal.
1830. MARRYAT, King's Own, ch. x.
I could FILCH a handkerchief as soon as I
was high enough to reach a pocket, and
was declared to be a most promising child.
pr
he
1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude,
ch. iii., p. 246. She were an out-and-outer
in going into shops on the FILCH.
2. (old). — To beat. For
synonyms, see BASTE and TAN.
1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all,
p. 38 (H. Club's Repr., 1874), s.v.
Stibs. (old).— A thief. [From
the verb.] Also FILCHER (q. v. }.
For synonyms, see AREA-SNEAK.
1810. POOLE, Hamlet Travestie, II.,
iii. A very FILCH, that more deserves to
hang, Than any one of the light-finger 'd
gang.
FILCHER or FILCH (q.v.). subs.
(Old Cant : now recognised).
A thief. [From FILCH (q.v.) =
to steal + ER.] For synonyms,
see AREA-SNEAK and THIEVES.
1580. TUSSER, Husbandrie, ch. 10,
st. 54, p. 25 (E.D.S.). Purloiners and
FiLCHERS,-that loveth to lurke.
1596. JONSON, Every man in his
Humour, IV., ix. How now, Signior
Gull ! are you turned FILCHER of late ?
Come, deliver my cloak.
1636. DAVENANT, The Wits, Act. V.,
The old blade Skulks there like a tame
FILCHER, as he had New stolen 'bove eggs
from market-women, Robb'd an orchard,
or a cheese-loft.
1887. J. W. EBSWORTH, Cavalier
Lyrics (In Alsatia, etc.). FILCHERS, who
grabble at other folks' chink.
FILCHMAN or FILCH, subs. (old). —
A thief's hooked staff used as
described in quot., 1632.
1567. Frat. of Vacabpndes, p. 3.
The trunchion of a staffe, which staflfe they
Cal a FILTCHMAN.
1589. NASHE, Countercuffe to Martin
Junior, in wks., vol. I., p. 80. Pasquill
met him . . . with a Hatte like a sawcer
vppon hys crowne, a FILCH-MAN in his
hande.
]610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all,
p. 38 (H. Club's Repr., 1874), s.v.
1632-48. DEKKER, English Villanies
He carries a short staff in his hand, which
is called a FILCH, having in the nab or head
File.
39*
Fill the Btn.
of it a ferme (that is to say_a hole) into
which, upon any piece of service, when he
goes a FILCHING, he putteth a hooke of
iron, with which hooke he angles at a win-
dow in the dead of night for shirts, smockes,
or any other linen or woollen.
1665. R. HEAD, English Rogue, pt.
I., ch. v., p. 49 (1874), s.v. ; 1724. E.
COLES, Eng. Diet., s.v.
FILE, subs. (old). I. A pickpocket.
Also FILE CLOY Or BUNG-NIPPER j
cf., BUTTOCK. Fr., une poisse a
la detourne.
1754. FIELDING, Jon. Wild, bk. IV.,
ch. xii. The greatest character among
them was that of a pickpocket, or, in truer
language, a FILE.
1837. C. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, p.
123. You'll be a fine young cracksman
afore the old FILE now.
1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, or
Rogues Lexicon. The FILE is one who is
generally accompanied by two others, one
of whom is called the ' Adam tyler,' and
the other the 'bulker,' or 'staller.' It is
their business to jostle or 'ramp' the
victim, while the FILE picks his pocket,
and then hands the plunder to the ' Adam
tyler,' who makes off with it.
2. (common). — A man : i.e.,
a COVE (g.v.). Thus SILENT FILE
(Fr. , un lime sourde) = & dumb
man ; CLOSE-FILE = a miser, or a
person not given to blabbing ;
HARD-FILE = a GRASPER (q.V.) ;
OLD FILE = an elder ; and so
forth.
1821. P. EGAN, Tom and Jerry (ed.
1890), p. 54. He was one of the deepest
FILES in London ; indeed, he was 'awake'
on every suit.
1836. C. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers
p. 360 (ed. 1857). 'Wot a perverse old
FILE it is!' exclaimed Sam, 'always
agoin' on about werdicks and alleybis,
and that. Who said anysthings about
the werdick ? '
1837. C. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, p.
233. The Dodger . . . desired the jailer
to communicate the names of them two
FILES as were on the bench.
1849. THACKERAY, Hoggarty Dia-
mond, ch. xi. ' You beat Brough ; you do,
by Jove! for he looks like a rogue — anybody
would swear to him: but you ! by Jove, you
look the very picture of honesty ! ' ' A deep
FILE,' said Aminadab, winking and point-
ing me out to his friend, Mr. Jehoshaphat.
1876. BESANT and RICE, Golden
Butterfly, ch. xiii. If you were not such
a steady old FILE I should think you were
in love with her.
Verb (old). — To pick pockets.
FILING- LAY, subs, (thieves'). —
Pocket-picking. [From FILE =
to steal from the person + LAY =
business, occupation.
1754. Jon. Wild, bk. IV., ch. ii. I
am committed for the FILING-LAY, man,
and we shall be both nubbed together.
FILLING AT THE PRICE, adv. phr.
(common). — Satisfying.
1870. London Figaio, 28 May.
' Penny Pleasures.' We believe that
baked taturs are accepted as Penny Plea-
sures, and as being FILLING AT THE
FILL ONE'S PIPE, verb. phr. (obso-
lete).— To attain to easy circum-
stances.
1821. P. EGAN, Tom and Jerry (ed.
1890), p. 32. It has often been the subject
of sincere regret that such persons, with
very few exceptions, have lived just long
enough, according to a vulgar phrase, TO
FILL THEIR PIPE, and leave others to
enjoy it.
FILL THE BILL, verb. phr. (theatri-
cal).— To excel in conspicuous-
ness : as a star actor whose
name is ' billed ' to the exclusion
of the rest of the company.
Hence, by implication, out of the
common run of things ; e.g.
THAT FILLS THE BILL =' that
takes the cake,' fora lie, an efftct,
an appearance — anything.
FILL THE BIN, verb. phr. (Ameri-
can).— To be beyond question ;
to come up to the mark ; e.g. ,
' Is the news reliable ? ' Yes, it
FILLS THE BIN. Cf., To FlLL
THE BILL.
Fillupey.
397
Fine.
1862. Speech of W. G. Broivnlmv of
Tenn. in N. Y. Herald, 16 May. ' Sir,'
said he, — and he [W. L. Yancey] is a beau-
tiful speaker and personally a very fine-
looking man, — ' are you the celebrated
Parson Brownlow ? ' ' I'm the only man
on earth,' I replied, ' that FILLS THE BIN.'
FILLUPEY, adj. and adv. (obsolete).
—Satisfying. [From FILL + UP
+ Y.]
1853. Diogenes, II., 195. Champagne
is FILLUPEY, so is Auber's music.
FILLY, subs, (common). — A girl;
specifically a wanton. Among
thieves, a daughter.
1668. ETHEREGE, She Would if She
Could, II., ii. (1704), p. ii2. I told you
they were a couple of skittish FILLIES, but
I never knew 'em boggle at a man before.
1846. THACKERAY, V. Fair, ch. xi.
Well, I heard him say, ' By jove, she s a
neat little FILLY!' meaning your humble
servant, and he did me the honour to dance
two country dances with me.
FILLY-HUNTING, subs, (venery). —
Questing adventures ; GROUSING
FILTH, subs, (old venery). — A pros-
titute.
1602. SHAKSPEARE, Othello, v., 2.
lago, FILTH, thou liest !
1609. SHAKSPEARE, Timon of
Athens, iv., i. To general FILTHS Con-
vert, o' the instant, green virginity.
FIMBLE-FAMBLE, subs, (common).
— A lame excuse ; a prevaricating
answer.
FlN, subs, (common). — I. The
arm; also the hand. [Fr., na-
geoire, but for synonyms, see
DADDLE. To TIP THE FIN =
to shake hands.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
FIN, an arm.
1836. MICHAEL SCOTT, Cruise of
the Midge, p. 116. I wagged my head at
this one, and nodded to another, and
salaam'd with my FINS with all the grace
of a wounded turtle, to a third.
1836. DICKENS, Pickwick, ch. xxxvii.,
p. 323. ' Smauker, my lad, your FIN,' said
the gentleman with the cocked hat. Mr.
Smauker dovetailed the top joint of his
right hand little finger into that of the
gentleman with the cocked hat, and said
he was charmed to see him looking so well.
1844. Puck, p. 134. The sun shines
fair in Carey Street, And eke in Lincoln's
Inn, When Brown and Johnson gaily meet
And shake the friendly FIN.
1849. THACKERAY, Pendennis, ch. Iv.
The young surgeon . . . succeeded in
getting the General's dirty old hand under
what he called his own FIN.
1850. F. SMEDLEY, Frank Fairleigh,
p. 152. I'll drive you there instead ; it
will be better for your scorched FIN (point-
ing to my injured arm), than jolting about
outside a horse.
2. Also FINN or FINNIE.—
See FINNUP.
Intj.—See FAIN.
FIND, subs. (Harrow). — A mess of
three or four upper boys which
teas and breakfasts in the rooms
of one or other of the set.
FIND-FAG = a fag who provides
for or ' finds ' upper boys.
FINDER, subs, (thieves').— i. A
thief ; specifically a meat-market
thief.
2. (Oxford University). — A
waiter ; especially at Caius'.
FINE, subs, (thieves'). — Punishment;
a term of imprisonment. For
synonyms, see DOSE. To FINE =
to sentence. [From the payment
of money imposed as a punishment
for an offence.]
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue
s.v.
1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, or
Rogue's Lexicon, The cove had a FINE
of two stretches and a half imposed upon
him for relieving a joskin of a load of cole.
Fine-drawing.
398
Finger- Smith.
To CUT IT FINE.— See CUT
FINE.
TO GET ONE DOWN FINE AND
CLOSE, verb. phr. (American). —
To find out all about a man ; to
deliver a stinging blow.
ALL VERY FINE AND LARGE,
adj. phr. (common). — An inter-
jection of (i) approval ; (2) de-
rision ; and (3) incredulity. [The
refrain of a music-hall song ex-
cessively popular about 1886-88.]
FINE AS FIVEPENCE. — See
FlVEPENCE.
FINE DAY FOR THE YOUNG
DUCKS, subs. phr. (colloquial). —
A very wet day.
FINE WORDS BUTTER NO PARS-
NIPS, phr. (colloquial). — A sar-
castic retort upon large promises.
FINE- DRAWING, subs, (tailors').—-
Accomplishing an end without dis-
covery.
FINEER, verb, FINEERING, sitbs.
(old).— See quot.
1765. GOLDSMITH, Essays, VIII.
The second method of running into debt is
called FINEERING ; which is getting goods
made in such a fashion as to be unfit for
every other purchaser, and if the trades-
man refuses to give them on credit, then
threatens to leave them upon his hands.
FINE- MADAM, subs. phr. (common).
— An epithet of envy or derision
for a person (feminine) above her
station.
FINGER, subs. (American). — A
'nip'; usually applied to spirit -
ous liquors. Thus, Three FINGERS
of clear juice = Three ' goes ' of
whiskey.
1888. Newport Journal, 25 Feb.
Which is correct, spoonfuls or spoons-ful,
uncle ? ' Denver uncle — ' Um — er — the fact
is I don't know, my boy. In Denver, we
don't use either, we say FINGERS.'
Verb (venery). — To take
liberties with a woman. For
synonyms, see FIRKYTOODLE.
TO PUT THE FINGER IN THE
EYE, verb. phr. (colloquial). —
To weep. For synonyms, see
NAP A BIT.— [GROSE, 1785.]
A BIT FOR THE FINGER,
phr. (venery). — A lascivious
endearment.
FINGER AND THUMB, subs. phr.
(rhyming slang). — A road or
highway, i.e.* 'drum.' For syno-
nyms, see DRUM.
FINGER-BETTER, subs. (American).
— A man who bets on credit ; also
one who points out cards.
FINGER - FUCKING, subs. phr.
(venery). — Masturbation (said of
women only). For synonyms,
see FRIG.
FINGER-POST, subs, (common). —
A clergyman. For synonyms, see
DEVIL-DODGER.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue.
A parson : so called, because . . . Like
the FINGER-POST he points out ... the
way to heaven.
FINGER-SMITH, subs, (thieves'). —
I. A pickpocket.
1883. HORSLEY, Jottings from Jail
[in Echo}, 25 Jan., p. 2, col. 4. The
delicate expression FINGERSMITH, as
descriptive of the trade which a blunt
world might call that of a pickpocket.
2. (common). — A midwife.
Fr., Madame tire-monde or tire-
pouce (Rabelaisian) ; Madame tire-
mdmes (mdme = 'kid'); une md-
miere (thieves') ; Madame tate-
Finish.
399
Fire-eater.
mineite, Madame giiichet or Mad-
ame portiere du petit guichet
(i7th century phrases). C/!,
CARVER AND GILDER.
FINISH, verb (common). — To kill.
For synonyms, see COOK ONE'S
GOOSE.
FINISHER, subs, (colloquial). —
Something that gives the last, the
settling touch to anything. Cf.t
CORKER, CLINCHER, etc.
1788-1841. TH. HOOK [quoted in
Annandale]. ' This was a FINISHER,' said
Lackington.
FINJY ! intj. (Winchester College).
— An exclamation excusing one
from participation in an unpleasant
or unacceptable task, which he
who says the word last has to
undertake.
FINNUF. — See FINNUP.
FlNNUP, (also FINNIP, FINNUF,
FINNIF, FINNIE, FINN, Or FIN),
subs, (thieves'). — A five-pound
note or FLIMSY (q.v. ). [A Yiddish
pronunciation of German fiinf =
five.] Also FINNUP-READY (ready
= money). In America FINNUP
= a five dollar bill. DOUBLE
FINNUP = a ten pound note.
1851-61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab.
and Lon. Poor, vol. III., p. 396. The
notes were all PINNIES (£5 notes), and a
good imitation.
1857. SNOWDEN, Mag. Assistant, srd
ed., p. 444. Five-pound notes, FINNIFS ,
ten-pound notes, DOUBLE FINNIPS.
1883. HORSLEV, Jottings from Jail.
When we got into the rattler they showed
me the pass. Yes, there it was, fifty quids
in DOUBLE FINNS.
F i P P E N N Y , subs. (Australian
thieves'). — A clasp knife. For
synonyms, see CHIVE,
FIRE, subs, (thieves'). — Danger.
1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, or
Rogues Lexicon. This place is all on
FIRE ; I must pad like a bull or the cops
will nail me.
LIKE A HOUSE ON FIRE, adv.
phr. (common). — Easily and
rapidly. Cf., HOUSE, WINKING,
ONE O'CLOCK, CAKE, BRICK, etc.
To FIRE A SHOT, verb. phr.
(venery). — To emit. Fr., tirer un
coup.
To FIRE A SLUG, verb. phr.
(old ). — To drink a dram. [GROSE,
1785.]
TO FIRE IN THE AIR, Verb.
phr. (veneiy). — To SHOOT IN
THE BUSH (q.V.}.
To FIRE A GUN, verb. phr.
(old). — To introduce a story by
head and shoulders ; to lead up
to a subject. — [GROSE, 1785.]
TO PASS THROUGH THE FIRE,
verb. phr. (venery). — To be
CLAPPED (q.V.), or POXED (q.V.).
To SET THE THAMES ON FIRE,
verb. phr. (colloquial) — To be
clever, or the reverse ; used in
sarcasm.
FIRE AND LIGHT, s^lbs. phr. (nauti-
cal ) . — A master-at -arms.
FIRED, adj. (American). — Arrested;
turned out ; and (among artibts)
rejected.
FIRE-EATER, subs, (common). — In
Old Cant a quick-worker ; and
in modern English, a duellist or
bully. Also FIRE-EATING.
1841. SAVAGE, Diet. Art. of Print-
ing, s.v. A quick compositor.
1854. WHYTE MELVILLE, General
Bounce, ch. xii. Sir Ascot was none of
your sighing, despairing, FIRE -EATING
adorers.
Fire-escape.
400
First Flight.
1868. OUIDA, Under Two Flags, ch.
xv. A soldier, who . . . was one of the
most brilliant FIRE-EATERS of his regi-
ment.
FIRE-ESCAPE, subs, (common). — A
clergyman. For synonyms, see
DEVIL-DODGER.
FlRE-PRIGGER, subs. (old). — A
thief whose venue is a conflagra-
tion.—GROSE [1785].
FIRESHIP, subs. (old). — A tainted
whore. For general synonyms,
see BARRACK-HACK and TART.
FIRE-SPANIEL, sttbs. (military). —
A soldier who ' nurses ' the bar-
rack-room fire. Some English
synonyms are, fire-dog ; fire-
worshipper ; chimney-ornament ;
fender-guard; and cuddle-chimney.
FIREWATER, subs. (American). —
Ardent spirits.
1861. T. HUGHES, Tom Br<nvn at
Oxford, ch. xiv. Yes. And awful FIRE-
WATER we used to get. The governor
supplied me, like a wise man.
FIREWORKS, subs, (common). —
A state of disturbance ; mental
excitement: e.g., FIREWORKS ON
THE BRAIN = to be in a fluster.
FIRK, verb (old).— To beat.
1599. SHAKSPEARE, Henry V., iv., 6.
Pistol. I'll fer him, and FIRK him, and
ferret him.
FIRKYTOODLE, verb (common). —
To indulge in sexual endearments.
Also FIRKYTOODLING = prelim-
inary caresses.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. — To
canoodle ; to fiddle ; to mess
(or pull) about ; to slewther
(Irish) ; to spoon ; to crooky ;
to fam ; to dildo ; to caterwaul ;
to feel ; to finger ; to fumble ;
to grope ; to clitorize ; to touch
up ; to tip the long (or middle)
finger ; to guddle (Scots.)
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Mignoter
(popular) ; jouer de la harpe
(familiar : Leroux, in Diet.
Comique, says : ' Jouer de la
harpe signifie jouer des mains
aupres d'une femme, la patiner,
lui toucher la nature, la farfouiller,
la clitoriser, la chatouiller avec
les doigts) ; la petite oie ( = prelim-
inary favours) ; faire des horreurs
(popular : des horreurs = broad or
' blue ' talk ; dire des horreurs =
to talk bawd) ; becoter (popular:
= to make hot love) ; chouchouter
(familiar: chouchou = darling).
SPANISH SYNONYMS. Gara-
tusa ( = an act of endearment);
caroca (generally used in plural,
carocas — endearments) ; amori-
cones (vulgar).
FIRMED.— See WELL-FIRMED.
FIRST-CHOP,^, (common). — First
rate. [From Hind., chaap, a
stamp, an official mark on weights
and measures ; hence used to
signify quality.] Also SECOND-
CHOP (q.v.).
1855. THACKERAY, Newcomes, ch.
iv. ' As for poetry, I hate poetry.' ' Pen s
is not FIRST-CHOP,' says Warrington.
1880. A. TROLLOPE, The Duke's
Children, ch. Ixviii. Old Beeswax
thinks that if he can get me up to swear
that he and his crew are real FIRST-CHOP
hands, that will hit the governor hard.
FIRST FLIGHT. IN THE FIRST
FLIGHT, subs. phr. (sporting). —
Those first in at the finish ; in
fox-hunting those in at the death.
1852. F. E. SMEDLEY.ZtfwzV Arundel,
ch. xxxix. Then you promise you will
dine with me at Lovegrove's, on Thursday,
First-Nighter.
401
Fishy.
and I'll pick up half-a-dozen fellows that I
know you'll like to meet, regular top-
sawyers, that you're safe to find in the
FIRST FLIGHT, be it where it may.
FIRST-NIGHTER, suds. phr. (journal-
istic).— An habitue of first per-
formances.
1886. G. SUTHERLAND, Australia,
p. 123. The FIRST-NIGHTER is almost
unknown in the colonies.
FIRST-NIGHT WRECKER. —See
WRECKER.
FISH, subs, (common). — I. A man;
generally in contempt or dis-
paragement as ODD FISH, LOOSE
FISH, QUEER FISH, SCALY FISH,
SHY FISH (all of which see). Cf.,
COVE.
2. (tailors'). — Pieces cut out
of garments to make them fit
close.
3. (venery). — Generic for the
female pudendum : e.g., A BIT
OF FISH = A GRIND (q.V.) ; FISH-
MARKET— a brothel ; and TO GO
FISHING = to go GROUSING (q.V.).
Verb (colloquial). — To attempt
to obtain by artifice ; to seek in-
directly ; to curry favour.
PRETTY KETTLE OF FISH, subs,
phr. (colloquial). — A perplexing
state of affairs ; a quandary.
TO HAVE OTHER FISH TO FRY,
verb. phr. (colloquial). — To have
other business on hand.
1785. GROSE, Diet. Vulg. Tongue,
s.v.
1836. MICHAEL SCOTT, Cruise of the
Midge, p. px>. He shouted to us, and
pointed to his cargo ; but we HAD OTHER
FISH TO FRY, and accordingly never
relaxed in our pulling.
TO BE NEITHER FISH NOR
FLESH, verb. phr. (colloquial). —
To be neither one thing nor
another ; said of waverers and
nondescripts ; sometimes ex-
tended to NEITHER FISH, FLESH,
FOWL, NOR GOOD RED HERRING.
1598. SHAKSPEARE, II. Henry IV. ,
iv., 3. Falstaff. Why, she's NEITHER FISH
NOR FLESH; a man knows not where to
have her.
1631-1700. DRYDEN [quoted in Annan-
dale]. Damned neuters in their middle
way of steering, Are NEITHER FISH, NOR
FLESH, NOR GOOD RED HERRING.
FISH-BROTH, subs, (common). —
Water. For synonyms, see
ADAM'S ALE, to which may be
added : Fr. , le bouillon de canard
(thieves') ; Vagoiit (thieves'): Four.
vetta.
1599. NASHE, Lenten Stuffe. The
churlish frampold waves gave him his
belly-full of FISH-BROATH.
FISHER, subs, (common). — A lick-
spittle'; only used contemptuously.
FISHHOOKS, subs, (common). — The
fingers. For synonyms, see FORKS.
1848. BUNCOMBE, Sinks of London,
FISH MARKET, subs, (gaming). —
The lowest hole at bagatelle ;
SIMON (q.v.}. — See also FISH,
subs., sense 3.
FISHY, adj. (common). — Effete,
dubious, or seedy (of persons) ;
unsound, or equivocal (of things).
Also FlSHINESS = UNSOUNDNESS.
1858. SHIRLEY BROOKS, The Gordian
Knot, p. 14. Highly FISHY they were.
Something about breach of trust, and the
embezzling his brother's money — a man in
India.
1359. Punch, vol. XXXVI., p. 82.
The affair is decidedly FISHY. However
somebody must have the place, and so our
friend Sam Warren . . . takes the master-
ship, resigning his^eat.
26
Fist.
402
Fits.
1868. Orchestra, 29 Feb., p. 365.
When he commented on the words in the
libel of Greek derivation, he professed to
have forgotten all he ever learnt at school,
said that ichthyophagous meant FISHY, a
word that thoroughly described the plain-
tiffs case.
1870. London Figaro, 31 Oct. Captain
Spratt is the right man in the right place,
though his appointment to such a post is
certainly, on the face of it, FISHY.
1884. F. ANSTEY, Giant's Robe, ch.
xxii. There's something FISHY about it
all, and I mean to get at it.
1890. St. James Gazette, g April,
p. 3, col. i. Unfortunately the Bill is
FISHY ; and there are ' very awkward and
stiff considerations about it.'
FIST, subs, (common). — i. Hand-
writing. Fr., la cape.
1864. Derby Day, p. 8. Must say
though that your friend writes a tolerable
FIST.
2. (tailors'). — A workman.
GOOD FIST = a good workman.
3. (printers'). — An index hand.
Verb. i. — To apprehend.
1598. SHAKSPEARE, II. Henry IV.,
ii., i. Fang. An I but FIST him once !
An a' come but within my vice.
2. (colloquial). — To take hold,
e.g.) Just you FIST that scrubbing-
brush, and set to work.
3. (venery). — To FIST iT=to
take a man by the penis, for
intromission or masturbation.
To PUT UP ONE'S FIST, verb.
phr. (tailors'). — To acknowledge
a fact ; cf., FILL THE BIN
and ACKNOWLEDGE THE CORN.
FIST-FUCKING, subs. phr.
(venery). — Masturbation. For
synonyms, see FRIG.
FIT, adj. and adv. (colloquial). —
Suitable ; in good form.
1882. ^unch, vol. LXXXII., p. 155,
col. i,
1884. A. LANG, in Longman's Mag.,
IV., 140. The really best moment in life
is that which finds us young and FIT,
bowling on a lively wicket, and conscious
that we have considerable command of
the ball.
1889. Evening Standard, 25 June.
' Sir C. Russell's Speech in Durham-
Chetwynd Case.' Now, Mr. Lowther, I
am not suggesting —and I wish to be per-
fectly understood— that to run a horse that
is not perfectly FIT does not stand alone as
an offence against the honourable conduct
of any man on the turf.
FIT AS A FIDDLE, adj. phr.
(colloquial). — AWFULLY FIT, z.<?.,
in perfect condition.
TO FIT LIKE A BALL OF WAX,
verb. phr. (common). — To fit
close to the skin.
TO FIT LIKE A SENTRY BOX,
verb. phr. (common). — To fit
badly.
TO FIT LIKE A GLOVE, verb,
phr. (colloquial). — To fit per-
fectly.
To FIT TO A T, verb. phr.
(colloquial). — To fit to a nicety.
[In reference to the T square used
in drawing.]
1791. BOSWELL, Johnson. You see
they'd have FITTED HIM TO AT.
To FIT UP A SHOW, verb. phr.
(artists'). — To arrange an exhi-
bition.
TO FIT ENDS (or END TO END),
verb. phr. (venery). — To copu-
late. For synonyms, see RIDE.
FITCH'S GRENADIERS, subs. phr.
(military). — The Eighty-Third
Foot. [From the small stature of
the men and the name of the first
colonel.]
FITS. To BRAT INTO FITS, verb.
/>///-. — See BEAT and CREATION.
Fitter.
403
Fix.
FITTER, subs, (thieves'). — A burg-
lar's locksmith.
FIT UP, siibs. phr. (theatrical).— A
small company. Also used adjec-
tively ; see CONSCIENCE.
1889. Answers, p. 40. One young
fellow, who had come down with me,
shook his head when he found that the
company was one known as a FIT UP,
that is to say, one where the stage is really
carried about with the company.
FIVE-FINGERS, subs. phr. (cards). —
The five of trumps in the game
of ' Don ' or ' Five Cards. '
1611. CHAPMAN, May-Day, V., ii.,
in wks. (1873), ii., 401. For my game stood,
me thought, vpon my last two tricks, when
I made sure of the set, and yet lost it,
hauing the varlet and the FIUK FINGER to
make two tricks.
1674. COTTON, Compleat Gamester
[at the game of five-cards]. The FIVE
FINGERS (alias, five of trumps) is the best
card in the pack . . . the Ace of Hearts
wins the Ace of Trumps, and the FIVE
FINGERS not only wins the Ace of Trumps,
but also all other cards whatever.
FIVER, stibs. (colloquial). — Anything
that counts as five ; specifically
a five-pound note. C/., FINN.
_1853. WH. MELVILLE, Digby Grand,
ch. i. Spooner .... loses a five-pound
note, or, as he calls it, a FIVER, to my an-
tagonist.
1864. E. YATES, Broken to Harness,
ch. xxv. Wouldn't lend me a FIVER to
save me from gaol.
1871. Daily News, 26 Dec. 'Work-
house Xmas Depravity.' Why, there's
Jemima Ann . . . has . . . been bleeding
me of a FIVER to send to some Christmas
Dinner Fund for juvenile mudlarks.
1872. fun, Sept. I lent a FIVER unto
a friend — He managed somehow that to
spend.
1890. Tit-Bits, 8 Feb., p. 273, col. 2.
Lend me a FIVER, will you, Gus ?
FIVE OVER FIVE, adv. phr. (com-
mon).— Said of people who turn
in their toes.
FlVEPENCE. AS FINE, (or AS
GRAND), AS FIVEPENCE (or AS
FlPPENCE),///r. (colloquial). — As
fine as possible. C/., As NEAT AS
NINEPENCE.
1672. WYCHERLY, Love in a Wood,
V., wks. (1713), 421. Whilst his mistress is
as FINE AS FIPPENCE, in embroidered
sattens.
1720. GAY, New Song of New Similes.
As FINE AS FIVE-PENCE is her mien.
1738. SWIFT, Polite Convers., Dial.
3. Pray how was she drest ? Lady Sm.
Why, as FINE AS FI'PENCE.
1857. A. TROLLOPE, Barchester
Toweis, ch. xxxix. There's ... the lot
of 'em all sitting AS GRAND AS FIVEPENCE
in madam's drawing-room.
1866. G. A. SALA, Trip to Barbary,
ch. xiii. They [the Jews] continue to sit
1 all of a row ' with their daughters
dressed 'all in green,' or all in pink or
salmon-colour, and AS FINE AS FIVEPENCE
on their ceremonial days, waiting, waiting,
always waiting, for the restoration of the
Temple and the end of the dolour.
FIVES, subs, (common). — i. The
fingers. BUNCH OF FIVES = the
fist. Formerly also = the feet.
For synonyms, see FORKS.
c. 1629. Ballad in Arber's English
Garner, vol. VII., p. 13. Her cheeks
were like the cherry . . . Her waist
exceeding small. The FIVES did fit her
shoe.
1836. DICKENS, Pickwick, ii., 7.
Smart chap that cabman — handled his
FIVES well.
1887. Judy, 18 May, p. 236. Both
the men of sin handled their FIVES with
almost professional dexterity.
2. (streets').— A fight. [From
sense i.]
Fix, subs, (common). — A dilemma ;
frequently in conjunction with
AWFUL (q-v). and REGULAR
(q.V.)t e.g., AN AWFUL FIX = a
terrible position. Variants are
CORNERED ; UP A TREE ; UP A
CLOSE ; UNDER A CLOUD ; IN A
Fix.
404
Fix.
SCRAPE. Fr., avoir des mots avec
les sergots = \.o run amuck of the
police.
1837. R. H. BARHAM, The In-
goldsby Legends, (ed. 1862), p. 405. But,
alas! and alack! — He had stuffed her
sack So full that he found himself quite IN
A FIX.
1840. DICKENS, Old Curiosity Shop,
ch. Ixi. It can't be helped you know.
He ain't the only one in the same FIX.
1858. SHIRLEY BROOKES, The Gor-
dian Knot, p. 88. John Claxton, what a
FIX I am in. That Mrs. Spencer will never
go out of town.
1864. Tangle Talk, p. 271. Just as
you are in a capital FIX, exquisitely placed
for being made a laughing stock, your
friend will turn round upon you.
1869. MRS. H. WOOD, Roland Yorke,
ch. xxi. Oh, but I could tell you of
worse FIXES than that.
Verb (old). — i. To arrest.
For synonyms, see NAB and COP.
1789. G. PARKER, Variegated Char-
acters. If any of us was to come in by
ourselves and should happen to take a
snooze you'd snitch upon us and soon have
the traps FIX us.
2. (American colloquial). — A
general verb of action. Every-
thing is FIXED except the mean-
ing of the word itself. The farmer
FIXES his fences, the mechanic his
work-bench, the seamstress her
sewing - machine, the fine lady
her hair, and the schoolboy his
books. The minister has to FIX
his sermon, the doctor to Fix his
medicines, the lawyer to Fix his
brief. Dickens was requested to
'UN-FIX his straps'; eatables
are FIXED for a meal ; a girl
UNFIXES herself to go to bed, and
FIXES HERSELF UP to go for a
walk. At public meetings it is
FIXED who are to be the candi-
dates for office ; rules are FIXED
to govern an institution, and
when the arrangements are made
the people contentedly say, ' Now
everything is FIXED nicely.'
[This use is thought by Proctor
to have arisen from some con-
fusion between 'fingency' and
' fixation ' : as if the word had
the meaning of the Latin fingo%
finger e, instead of that of the
Latin figo, figere. At least there
is no use of FIX in American
\\hich would not fairly represent
the meaning of both. — See Philol.
Soc. Trans, for 1865, p. 188.]
The universality of the verb
is only equalled by its antiquity,
for, as J. R. Lowell points
out, as early as 1675. the
Commissioners of the United
Colonies ordered ' their arms well
FIXED and fit for service.'
TO FIX THE BALLOT BOX =
to tamper with returns.
1842. DICKENS, American Notes,
ch. x., p. 86. You call upon a gentleman
in a country town, and his help informs
you that he is FIXING himself just now,
but will be down directly : by which you
are to understand that he is dressing.
You inquire, on board a steamboat, of a
fellow-passenger, whether breakfast will
be ready soon, and he tells you he should
think so, for when he was last below, they
were FIXING the tables ; in other words,
laying the cloth. You beg a porter to
collect your luggage, and he entreats you
not to be uneasy, for he'll FIX IT pre-
sently, and if you complain of indisposi-
tion, you are advised to have recourse to
Doctor so and so, who will FIX you in no
time.
1888. Scribners Mag. I do hope
you'll like everything ; it's the first time
we ever took boarders, but we try to FIX
things nice.
ANYHOW, or NOHOW, YOU CAN
or CAN'T FIX IT. — See ANYHOW.
To FIX ONE'S FLINT, verb. phr.
(American). — ' To settle one's
hash.' For synonyms, see COOK
ONE'S GOOSE.
1835-40. HALIBURTON, Clockmaker,
S., ch. xii. Their manners are rude,
Fixings.
405
Fizzing.
overbearin', and tyrannical. They want
their FLINTS FIXED for 'em as we did last
FIXINGS, subs. (American). — A
noun of all work. Applied to
any and everything.
1842. DICKENS, American Notes,
ch. x., p. 86. 'Will you try,' said my
opposite neighbour, handing me a dish of
potatoes, broken up in milk and butter,
' will you try some of these FIXINGS.'
1872. Daily Telegraph, 30 Sept.
Still stoutly asserted by some sceptical
Down-Easter to have been an itinerant
dealer in hardware and kitchen FIXINGS
from Salem, Mass.
Fix UP, verb. phr. (American). —
To settle ; to arrange. C/., Fix.
Fiz, or Fizz, subs, (common). —
Champagne; sometimes lemonade
and ginger-beer. For synonyms,
see BOY.
1864. Punch, vol. XLVII., p. 100.
So away we went to supper For hungry we
had grown, And ordered some FIZZ, which
the right thing is, With a devilled turkey
bone.
1869. St. James" Mag., July. Her
great object is to get one of these fellows to
order the champagne. On each bottle of
this stuff disposed of she has a percentage.
She terms it FIZZ, and will pretend to fall
into ecstacies at the prospect of a glass
of the chemical essence of gooseberry
sweetened up with tartaric acid and sugar
of lead.
1871. Morning Advertiser, n Sept.
Shall the Admirals of England now their
former prowess drop, All courage ooze from
tarry hands, like FIZ from uncorked ' pop ? '
1879. JUSTIN MCCARTHY, Donna
Quixote, ch. xvii. I can open a bottle of
soda or FIZZ ... and never as much as
wink.
1883. Referee, 22 April, p. 3, col. 3.
I have seen you wince when it has come to
your turn to stand treat, and you have
been called upon to pay twelve shillings
for a bottle of FIZZ.
Fiz-GiG, subs, (schoolboys'). — A
firework.
FIZZER, s^lbs. (common). — Any-
thing first-rate. Cf., FIZZING.
1866. London Miscellany, 19 May,
p. 235. If the mare was such a FIZZER
why did you sell her?
FIZZING, adj. (common). — First-
rate.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. — Ai ;
cheery ; clean wheat ; clipping ;
crack ; creamy ; crushing ; first
chop ; first class ; first-rate, or (in
America) first-rate and a half;
hunky ; jammy ; jonnick ; lummy ;
nap ; out-and-out ; pink ; plummy ;
proper ; real jam ; right as nine-
pence ; ripping ; rooter ; rum ;
screaming ; scrumptious ; ship-
shape ; slap-up ; slick ; splen-
dacious ; splendiferous ; to rights ;
tip-top ; true marmalade ; tsing-
tsing.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. — Aux
oiseaux (pop. : very fine, very
good) ; bath or bate (pop. : tip-
top ; for origin see under Ai) ;
c'est duflan (thieves' : it is excel-
lent) ; c'est hurf (general : = true
marmalade) ; c'est unpeu ca (popu-
lar) ; c'est bath aux pommes (cf.,
BATH ante) ; chenatre (thieves') ;
chic or chique (chique is literally a
quid of tobacco) ; chicard, chican-
cardo or chicandard (superlatives
of chic) ; chocnoso, chocnosof, choc-
nosogue or kosenoff ( = crushing ;
nobby) ; chouettty chottettard, or
chouettaud (chouette = literally a
screech-owl) ; epatarouflant or
epatant ( general = stunning ) ;
farineux (lit. farinaceous) ; flam-
bant (lit. blazing^ flaming) ; frais
(used ironically); grand 'largue
(largue = offing) ; mirobolant (fam.
and pop. = slap-up) ; muche ( =
bully or ripping) ; numero un
(i.e., Ai) ; obeliscal 01 obelisqual
(common) ; ruisselant d'inouisnie
Fizzle.
406
Fizzle.
(familiar); rup (popular); schpile
(popular); ^^"(popular) ; snoboye
(fam. and pop. ) ; superlificoquen-
tieux ( = splendiferous).
1885. Daily Telegraph, i August, p.
2, col. 2. ' She'll do FIZZING,' remarked
Mr. Menders, regarding the transformed
effigy admiringly, ' to stick up at the head
of the barren'
FIZZLE, subs. (American). — A
ridiculous failure ; a flash in the
pan. [The figure is adapted
from wet powder which burns
with a hiss, and then goes out.]
In many of the United States
colleges, the term = a blun-
dering recitation. To hit just
one third of the meaning con-
stitutes 'a perfect FIZZLE.' —
HalVs College Words. The
' Brunonian,' Feb. 24, 1877, de-
fines the word to mean ' where
the student thinks he knows, but
can't quite express it,' or * he tries
to express it, and the professor
thinks he doesn't quite know.'
1849. Tomahawk, November. Here
he could FIZZLES mark, without a sigh, And
see orations unregarded die.
1851. National Intelligencer, 8 Dec.
The speech was as complete a FIZZLE as
has ever disgraced Congress, and we hope
sincerely the honourable member from Mas-
sachusetts will take the lesson to heart.
1865. Letter in the D. Tele,
30 March. The famous ' Jack o'
from which so much was expected, is a
dead FIZZLE. The half of the men had to
leave the mines and go to the low country
for want of work ; and wages, which al-
ways were §10 a-day, were reduced to §80
per month, with board.
1883. Echo, 1 6 March, p. 4, col. i.
What promised at first to be a magnificent
Parliamentary ' row ' ended in a mere un-
sensational FIZZLE.
1890. St. James' Gaz., i May, p. 4,
col. 2. Altogether it begins to look as
though the terrible demonstrations of
down-trodden labour which were to shake
society to its foundations would end in
something like FIZZLE.
Verb (American). — To fail in
reciting; to recite badly. Also (said
of an instructor) to cause one to
fail at reciting. At some American
colleges FLUNK (q.v.) is the
common word for an utter failure.
To FIZZLE = to stumble through
at last. In the * Yale Literary
Messenger,' ' FIZZLE = To rise
with modest reluctance, to
hesitate often, to decline finally ;
generally, to misunderstand the
question.' Also to FLAT OUT
(q.v.)* Four. Far une yappa.
1847. The Yale Banger, 22 Oct.
My dignity is outraged at beholding those
who FIZZLE and flunk in my presence
tower above me.
1850. Yale Lit. Mag., p. 321. FIZZLE
him tenderly, Bore him with care ; Fitted
so slenderly, Tutor, beware.
END OF VOL. II.
LONDON :
HARRISON AND SONS,
PRINTERS IN ORDINARY TO HER MAJESTY,
ST. MARTIN'S LANE.
PE
3721
F4
1890
v.2
Farmer, John Stephen (ed.)
Slang and its analogues
past and present
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